SENATE BILL 408

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH; CREATING THE HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PROVIDING FOR HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION; PROVIDING FOR SELECTION OF INFECTION INDICATORS; ESTABLISHING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Hospital-Acquired Infection Act".

     Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Hospital-Acquired Infection Act:

          A. "advisory committee" means the hospital-acquired infection advisory committee;

          B. "department" means the department of health;

          C. "hospital-acquired infection" means a localized or systemic condition that results from an infection that occurs in a hospital that was not present or incubating at the time of admission as an inpatient to the hospital, unless the infection was related to a previous admission to the same setting, and that meets the criteria for a specific infection as defined by the national healthcare safety network;

          D. "indicator" means a measure of a hospital-acquired infection or other condition, process or serious reportable event identified and defined by the advisory committee that is based on objective, scientific standards and that may be tracked and reported;

          E. "national healthcare safety network" means the secure, internet-based surveillance system that integrates patient and health care personnel safety managed by the centers for disease control and prevention of the federal department of health and human services;

          F. "participating hospital" means a hospital that meets the criteria specified by the advisory committee or that desires to participate in hospital-acquired infection surveillance; and

          G. "surveillance system" means a secure, internet-based system designed for the collection of hospital-acquired infection incidence and prevention data.Section 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED--MEMBERS--DUTIES.--

          A. The "hospital-acquired infection advisory committee" is created in the department to conduct surveillance of hospital-acquired infections. Members of the advisory committee shall include:

                (1) a consumer of health care services;

                (2) a representative of the New Mexico association for professionals in infection control and epidemiology;

                (3) a representative of the New Mexico hospital association;

                (4) a representative of the New Mexico medical review association;

                (5) a local representative of the society for healthcare epidemiology of America; and

                (6) the department's infectious disease epidemiology bureau.

          B. The advisory committee shall:

                (1) establish objectives, definitions, criteria and standards for the reporting of hospital-acquired infections;

                (2) work with hospitals to identify and recruit volunteer participating hospitals in surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and other indicators;

                (3) develop objectives and action plans for instituting a statewide program of surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and other indicators;

                (4) identify the specific infections and indicators that are to be subject to surveillance and reporting;

                (5) identify, and make recommendations regarding, training in the use of the surveillance system or in the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and infectious disease;

                (6) develop and disseminate to the public appropriate reports of the findings of surveillance; and

                (7) consult as necessary with technical advisors who have regional or national expertise in the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and infectious disease.

     Section 4. PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS--RECRUITMENT--TRAINING.--

          A. The advisory committee shall identify hospitals willing and qualified to participate in surveillance of hospital-acquired infections as identified by the advisory committee. Recruitment of participating hospitals shall begin on a voluntary basis and shall include at least six hospitals representing rural and urban areas of the state. By July 1, 2011, the hospitals identified by the advisory committee as qualified shall participate in the surveillance program.             B. The advisory committee shall identify specific training and educational needs of participating hospitals, and the department shall develop curricula to reflect the training and educational recommendations of the advisory committee. The department shall provide training and educational support to participating hospitals subject to available resources. The department shall collaborate with the higher education department to identify appropriate programs for training and certification of infection control professionals.

     Section 5. HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS--INDICATORS.--

          A. The advisory committee shall determine the specific infections and indicators that are to be subject to surveillance and reporting. Indicators of hospital-acquired infections shall be selected based on scientific evidence that the infection or condition can be prevented with implementation and consistent use of evidence-based processes of care and on appropriateness for the state. The advisory committee shall consider the following indicators:

                (1) central line associated bloodstream infections;

                (2) surgical site wound infections;

                (3) ventilator assisted pneumonia;

                (4) catheter associated urinary tract infections; and

                (5) other hospital-acquired infections that the advisory committee may determine in consultation with technical advisors who are regionally or nationally recognized experts in the prevention, identification and control of hospital-acquired infections and the public reporting of performance data.

          B. Initially, and through calendar year 2009, hospital-acquired infection surveillance shall be conducted on the incidence of central line associated bloodstream infections and health care worker influenza vaccination rates.

          C. Beginning on January 1, 2010, the advisory committee shall identify additional hospital-acquired infection, condition or process indicators that will be tracked and reported by participating hospitals. At least annually, the advisory committee shall consider additional indicators that meet the standard for selection identified in Subsection A of this section.

     Section 6. REPORTS.--

          A. Participating hospitals shall report to the department the incidence of selected indicators using the national healthcare safety network surveillance system according to a schedule recommended by the advisory committee based on reporting frequencies identified by the national healthcare safety network. Reported data shall be verifiable and actionable.

          B. The advisory committee shall determine the content, format, venue and frequency of regular reports to the public. Public reports shall be published no later than July 1, 2011 and periodically thereafter.