The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)--infections that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures.
The Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections lists a number of areas in which HAIs can be prevented, such as surgical site infections. It also establishes national goals and outlines key actions for enhancing and coordinating HHS-supported efforts. These include development of national benchmarks, prioritized recommended clinical practices, a coordinated research agenda, an integrated information systems strategy, and a national messaging plan.
HHS plans to hold meetings in the spring of 2009 to provide opportunities for public comment on improving and strengthening the plan and sharing opportunities for organizations to become engaged with implementing components of the plan that are consistent with their organizations’ missions.
Read the action plan.
