HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 14

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Eleanor Chavez

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXPAND ITS SCOPE OF WORK TO INCLUDE PRE-SCREENING FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE ON ADMISSION TO A HOSPITAL, DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS FOR SAFETY, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PREVENTION OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS AND IDENTIFICATION OF COST SAVINGS THAT ACCRUE AS A RESULT OF VIGOROUS SURVEILLANCE OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS.

     WHEREAS, the Hospital-Acquired Infection Act was signed into law on April 7, 2009, establishing the hospital-acquired infection advisory committee and identifying a scope of work for that advisory committee; and

     WHEREAS, the advisory committee has been overseeing an initial voluntary participation of six hospitals in the surveillance and reporting of two indicators of hospital-acquired infections; and

     WHEREAS, the law requires an expansion of the activities of the initial voluntary program to a statewide program of qualified hospitals by July 1, 2011; and

     WHEREAS, there is widespread interest in tracking hospital-acquired infections, including federal health reform measures, at least one of which includes requirements to report on health care-associated infections to the federal centers for disease control and prevention and to refuse reimbursement for medicaid payments for certain health care-associated conditions; and

     WHEREAS, the state of Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to begin collecting and reporting information about hospital-acquired infections; and

     WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has issued its first report on hospital-acquired infections, entitled Hospital-Acquired Infections in Pennsylvania, which reflects that hospital-acquired infections were associated with one thousand seven hundred ninety-three deaths and an estimated two hundred five thousand extra hospital days and two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) in additional hospital charges in that state; and

     WHEREAS, the vigilant collection and reporting of information regarding hospital-acquired infections in New Mexico could lead to substantial savings for the health care system; and

     WHEREAS, pre-screening for the presence of infection prior to hospital admission could lead to more effective and appropriate treatment of patients; and

     WHEREAS, information of this nature should be used to improve patient safety and enhance prevention efforts for hospitals statewide;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the hospital-acquired infection advisory committee in the department of health be requested to expand its scope of work to include pre-screening for infectious disease on admission to a hospital, development of standards for safety, quality improvement and prevention of hospital-acquired infections and identification of cost savings that accrue as a result of vigorous surveillance of hospital-acquired infections; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a report of the progress of the hospital-acquired infection advisory committee to achieve these goals, as well as the statutory requirements of the advisory committee, be presented to the interim legislative health and human services committee by November 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

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