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Governor Rendell's Prescription for Pennsylvania Will Target Hospital-Acquired Infections, Boost Patient Safety & Reduce Costs

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 January 2007, 12:01 CST

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today outlined how his Prescription for Pennsylvania reform plan will improve patient safety and save billions in health care costs by helping to halt the spread of hospital-acquired infections.

"When you check into the hospital, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether you may become sicker, or even die, just because you were hospitalized," Governor Rendell said at a hospital, which is part of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, a national leader in curbing such infections. "My plan will strongly encourage hospitals to do what others have been able to do -- stop the spread of preventable infections that seriously harm patients too often and needlessly drive up the cost of health care."

Known within the medical community as nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) frequently occur in the urinary tract, surgical wounds, bloodstream and lower respiratory tract.

According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, Pennsylvania hospitals reported 19,154 HAIs during 2005 that were associated with 2,478 deaths, approximately 394,000 extra hospital days and $3.5 billion in additional hospital charges. The average charge for a hospitalization with an HAI was approximately $185,000, compared to $31,000 for patients without such an infection. The mortality rate for patients with a HAI was 12.9 percent, compared to a normal rate of 2.3 percent.

Under Governor Rendell's Prescription for Pennsylvania, the commonwealth will, over time, stop paying health care providers for care associated with hospital-acquired infections and medical errors. The state also will pursue new regulations that would require hospitals to implement proven, effective infection control procedures and systems to prevent virtually all HAIs, focusing first on infections that cause loss of life or disability and that are most costly.

The Governor highlighted the success of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in curbing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a prevalent HAI. Under a "Getting to Zero" pilot program that included improved staff hygiene practices and patient surveillance, MRSA infections fell from an annual average of 20 infections a few years ago to only one or two. Across the nation, other VA facilities have adopted the approaches developed by VA Pittsburgh with the goal of eliminating MRSA among patients.

Governor Rendell's comprehensive Prescription for Pennsylvania, which relies on private-sector principles, will increase access to affordable health care coverage for every uninsured Pennsylvania resident, improve the quality of care, and control health care costs for businesses and employees.

To expand access to care, Governor Rendell's proposal calls for the creation of Cover All Pennsylvanians (CAP), a program offering affordable basic health coverage to small businesses and the uninsured through the private insurance market. Governor Rendell said all uninsured Pennsylvanians -- no matter the size of their employer -- will be able to purchase affordable health insurance through CAP.

Prescription for Pennsylvania will enable nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, pharmacists, dental hygienists and other licensed health care providers to practice to the fullest extent of their training and skills. Prescription for Pennsylvania also promotes incentives for health care providers who offer services in the evenings and on weekends, which will help to discourage consumers from seeking emergency room treatment for routine medical concerns. Statistically, Pennsylvanians are more likely than the average American to seek emergency room treatment.

Prescription for Pennsylvania will further expand access to care by addressing urgent workforce shortages in rural regions. Governor Rendell's initiative will invest in workforce development and provide financial incentives to attract and retain health care providers in underserved regions. Additionally, the Governor's plan will increase the diversity of the health care labor force in an effort to improve the provision of care to historically underserved communities.

Specific components of Governor Rendell's initiative will require legislative and federal approval. If the necessary approvals are timely, the CAP program is expected to begin operating in January 2008. The financial aspects of the plan will be outlined when Governor Rendell announces his budget proposal for the 2007-08 state fiscal year in early February.

For more information on Governor Rendell's Prescription for Pennsylvania and the proposed Cover All Pennsylvanians program, visit http://www.gohcr.state.pa.us/.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Kate Philips 717-783-1116 Amy Kelchner, GOHCR 717-346-8379

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116; or Amy Kelchner of Pennsylvania Governor's Office of HealthCare Reform, +1-717-346-8379

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/http://www.gohcr.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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