A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION RATES IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, hospital-acquired infections affect approximately one million nine hundred thousand Americans each year;

     WHEREAS, hospital-acquired infections cost billions of dollars per year nationwide and result in increased expenses to patients for extended hospital stays and additional medication; and

     WHEREAS, approximately ninety thousand Americans die each year from hospital-acquired infections; and

     WHEREAS, more people die from hospital-acquired infections than from automobile accidents and homicides combined; and

     WHEREAS, many of the deaths and illnesses that result from hospital-acquired infections are preventable; and

     WHEREAS, hand-washing has been shown to reduce hospital-acquired infections significantly, but hand-washing compliance rates are generally less than fifty percent nationwide; and

     WHEREAS, the study and public disclosure of hospital infection rates provide a strong incentive for hospitals to improve those rates; and

     WHEREAS, the study and public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates will facilitate the provision of information that the public needs to choose hospitals that achieve low infection rates and avoid those hospitals that do not achieve low infection rates; and

     WHEREAS, studies of comprehensive hospital programs designed to address all types of hospital-acquired infections have realized reductions in hospital-acquired infections of more than fifty percent; and

     WHEREAS, four states, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania, require public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has an opportunity to be at the forefront of reform with respect to this issue;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to conduct a comprehensive study of hospital-acquired infection rates in New Mexico and present a written report of those infection rates that includes methods of prevention of hospital-acquired infections to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by December 31, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that duplicate copies of the department of health's report be filed with the legislative council service library upon presentation of the report to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature; and

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