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Beyond increasing the cost of treatment, healthcare-associated infections (including central line associated bloodstream infections) can significantly reduce the average hospital’s profit margin.
True
In February 2007 the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) published a briefing titled "Dispelling The Myths: The True Cost of Healthcare-Associated Infections." In it, the authors reported on a recent study of 1.69 million admissions at 77 hospitals; this revealed that patients with a healthcare- acquired infection reduced overall net inpatient profit margins by a total of $286 million (or $5,018 per infected patient). The study also found that "in classes where reimbursement is lower, the loss impact is even greater."(1)
To bolster their point about infections eroding profitability, the APIC briefing's authors cite the results of a 40-hospital campaign by the Jewish Health Foundation and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative to eliminate central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABs). The experience at Allegheny General Hospital was especially noteworthy. This institution reduced CLABs by 90%, and in doing so recorded the following data:
| Average reimbursement per case | $64,894 |
| Average cost per case with CLAB | $91,733 |
| Average Loss per case | $(26,839) |
| Total Loss from operations associated with CLABs | $(1,449,306) |
| Percent of total cost of care associated with CLABs | 43% |
REFERENCES:
(1) Murphy, D., Whiting, J. “Dispelling The Myths: The True Cost of Healthcare-Associated Infections.” An APIC Briefing, Feb. 2007.
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Institute of Healthcare Improvement
5 million lives campaign
The 5 Million Lives Campaign is a voluntary initiative to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm over the next two years (December 2006 – December 2008).
- IHI 5 Million Lives Website
- Overview
- Participants
- Implement the Central Line Bundle
- IHI Getting Started Kit: Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia How-to Guide
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
