medicare consumers

For more information contact:

Diane Smith
Director,
Patient Safety and Transitions of Care
(248) 465-7329

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) exact a significant toll on human life and are among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in 2002. Beyond the human toll, it is estimated HAIs cost the national healthcare system in excess of $33 billion each year.

Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections

MPRO, Michigan's Quality Improvement Organization, on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has embarked on a national initiative to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in hospitals over the three years (August 2011 - July 2014)

Working in partnership with the ongoing efforts of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association's (MHS) Keystone Center and the Michigan Department of Community Helath's (MDCH) SHARP Unit (Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated & Resistance Pathogens), this new initiative, known as the Improve Individual Patient Care Initiative-Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections, enhances those efforts through the alignment of objectives and the reduction of duplication.

Though the combined support of MPRO, MHA and MDCH, this initiative is positioned to assist hospitals in achieving reductions in:

Catheter Associated Urinary tract Infections (CAUTI);
Clostridium Difficle Infections (CDI); and
Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

Hospitals in the MPRO's Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) initiative will:

Reduce CAUTI infections by implementing evidence-based interventions; Clostridium difficle and surgicle site infections;
Participate in Learning and Action Networks (LAN) to share best practices and proven change methodology.

Participating hospitals will have:

Eligibility for MPRO's Governor's Award Program;
Opportunities for peer-to-peer learning through a statewide Learning and Action Network (LAN);
Access to and training on HAI reduction evidence-based interventions;
Support to rapid-cycle improvements;
Strategies for creating success within their hospital; and
Advancing public reporting of patient care.

How to Stay Connected to the HAI Initiatives:

Initiative Contact: Diane Smith (248) 465-7329
Meet your Quality Improvement Team
Log onto MPRO's CommunityZero Online Community featureing social media
Attend a Learning and Action Network Webinar, Teleconference or Semi-Annual Meeting
Learning and Action Network Calendar of Events

Related HAI Link(s)

-HAI Toolkit