Question

Review the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality guidelines in the US, discuss reasons (at least 2) why Hospital acquired Conditions have decreased in 2018. How are hospital administrators involved/responsible?

Answer 1

Hospital acquired infections are those develop during hospitalization- usually occur 48 to 72 hours after admission and within 10 days after discharge.

AHRQ National Scorecard (2018) -Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study showed that rate of hospital-acquired conditions declined by 8% from 2014 to 2016. This also helped in saving $2.9 billion and preventing around 8,000 deaths. It was a multipronged strategy with participation from government, public agencies, healthcare service providers, insurance provider.

Health care administrators helped in reaching this through the following two main ways

Facilitation of prevention program

• Through Standardized procedures -for intubation, catheterization, venous access and investigative procedure
• Supply of sterilized instruments and dressings;
• Operation theatre disinfection , design and procedures
• Application of aseptic techniques throughout hospitals
• clean general environment - clean food, laundry s and waste disposal
• Peri-operative surgical chemoprophylaxis
• Provide training for hospital personnel

Monitoring, Documentation and reporting

• Using electronic and advanced tools for monitoring
• Regular documentation and classification
• Periodic   reporting   of     infection s and   antimicrobial   resistance