A new study discovered infection preventionists spend a large portion of their time collecting and reporting infection data to federal health agencies, according to APIC.
Here are five notes:
1. Infection preventionists are not able to spend sufficient amount of time protecting patients because of the time it takes to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reporting requirements.
2. A study found IPs spend an average of five hours and eight minutes each day collecting and reporting data.
3. IPs at healthcare facilities must analyze lab reports and report infection data to the National Healthcare Safety Network website, which is used by CMS for Medicare payment determination.
4. It takes 118.29 hours each month to review the lab reports and complete reporting using the NHSN criteria and definitions, according to a study done by Sharon L. Parrillo, BSN, RN, CIC, assistant director of infection prevention at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset, N.J.
5. Ms. Parrillo stated she hopes the results of her study will cause policy makers to adjust HAI reporting legislation so environmental safety is prioritized.
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