Hospital infection rates now available to public

AIKEN --- Beginning this month, hospital-acquired infection rates are being made available to the public in South Carolina, though state health officials caution residents that the information is preliminary and has not been verified by them.

And it might be awhile before the state knows how well some hospitals are doing compared with others.

The reports will include limited information, according to Jerry Gibson, the director of the bureau of disease control for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"It will include only a few months' worth of data and will contain too few procedures to offer a complete picture of hospital infection rates," Dr. Gibson said.

The state is required to publish the rates.

Hospitals are required to report their infections to DHEC, which will verify that information and report it to the state Legislature, beginning in February 2009.

According to Dr. Gibson, residents should realize that hospitals that treat patients with a greater risk of developing an infection would likely have higher rates than other hospitals.

DHEC's Web site, where the reports can be found, also includes definitions of terms used in the reports so residents can understand the rate disclosures.

The disclosures are good news to Aiken-area resident Dianne Parker, a patient health advocate who is on DHEC's committee working on those infection disclosures.

Mrs. Parker became involved in patient safety work when her husband died because of what she believes were mistakes by health care providers.

She said the key to choosing the right medical facility is having that information, and she said patients should ask questions before checking in for treatment if they can.

"Everybody can make an informed decision as long as they keep their eyes and ears open and use this report as a partial comparison," she said.

Reach Sandi Martin at (803) 648-1395, ext. 111, or sandi.martin@augustachronicle.com.