Daniel Pollock, MD

Author: Dan Pollock
CDC, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Surveillance Branch Chief

CMS announced today that its Hospital Compare website now includes central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) data reported from hospital ICUs to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). In many places, this is the first time consumers can see how well their local hospitals prevent CLABSIs, one of the most deadly and preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).   

These data reflect hospital performance during the first quarter of 2011.  In many cases, there was not enough data to produce a valid score for a specific hospital.  As new data are added each quarter to Hospital Compare, enough information will be available to report accurate measures for more hospitals.  A view of statewide progress is also available, based on data from hospitals that participate in CMS’s Value-Based Purchasing program.

Consumers are encouraged to research their local hospitals on Hospital Compare and use the information as a discussion point with their healthcare providers.  The information should not be used as the sole factor in choice of hospital.