CDC Recognizes Kane Hospital

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently recognized Kane Community Hospital for its 2008 participation in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). NHSN is an internet-based surveillance system that tracts all healthcare-acquired Infections (HAI).

NHSN is the primary framework for hospitals nationwide to report health-care acquired infections.

Infections reported to the NHSN are automatically forwarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), and the Patient Safety Authority. Reporting to NHSN began February 14, 2008.

The purpose of NHSN is to collect data from a sample of US healthcare facilities to permit valid estimation of the magnitude of adverse events among patients and healthcare personnel. NHSN then analyzes and reports collected data to permit recognition of trends, and to provide facilities with risk-adjusted data that can be used for inter-facility comparisons and local quality improvement activities.

Pictured, from left, are Key principals of Infection Control policy and management: Amy Peterson, LPN, KCH Infection Control Professional; Pam Bray, RN, Director of Nursing, and Emmanuel Hipolito, M.D., Internal Medicine and medical director of Infection Control.

(Photo courtesy of Kane Community Hospital)