Like Ms Schulmeister, Ms Samuel-O’Garro noted that “costly infections can occur even when recommended precautions are observed.” An example, she said, is the current Clostridium difficile infection rate. “Strict infection control by the hospital could seriously reduce the spread of this from one patient to another, and thus overall reduce infection rates and costs. However, consider the case of the seriously immunocompromised patient who is on multiple antibiotics, and subsequently develops a C difficile infection. Would Medicare consider that initial infection to be a ‘reasonable preventable’ event for that particular patient? Community- acquired methacillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus could present a similar challenge.” Ms Samuel-O’Garro also agreed with Ms Schulmeister that the new rules may lead to more testing. “Hospitals will likely be performing more tests to document infections present at the time of admission,” she said. “This may result in ordering tests that would not ordinarily be indicated. So the insurer may have to pay additional costs.”
via New Medicare Ruling on Hospital Errors Will Have Impact on Nursing Practice – Oncology Nursing News.
