Central-Line Infection Rates at Calif. Hospitals Vary Widely, Data Show
Hospitals in Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay area have widely different rates of central-line infections, according to a new Consumers Union report, Payers & Providers reports.
For the report, Consumers Union analyzed 2008 data that hospitals voluntarily submitted for Leapfrog Group's annual survey on hospital quality and safety.
Of the 70 California institutions surveyed, 47 reported either no central-line infections or below-average infection rates.
U.S. hospitals on average experience slightly more than two infections for every 1,000 hours that a patient is connected to a central line, according to the report. Each infection adds about $42,000 to the cost of treating a patient (Payers & Providers, 2/4).
California has passed a law requiring the state to disclose hospital infection rates. The state is scheduled to begin publicly reporting the central-line infection data next year (Brown, San Francisco Business Times, 2/3). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.