According to the release, there is a lack of nationally representative, standardized data on the occurrence of HAIs in surgery centers, as evidenced by five disparate reports, including two surveys conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services. None of the five studies gave enough information to provide a national estimate, according to the report.
The GAO recommends that the HHS create a plan that conducts periodic, randomized surveys of ASCs in order to better determine and reduce the nationwide risk of infection at surgery centers.
Read Rep. Berkley’s release on the GAO surgery center report.
Read the GAO report on the need for better health-associated infection data for surgery centers.
