At Lincoln County Medical Center we are pleased to share our rate of infection with our patients.  Our rate of infection is 0.0 as compared to the statewide rate of 2.7.
In Missouri, hospitals are required by state law and regulation to report Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) data.

The following information can be found at www.dhss.mo.gov.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), are infections that patients can get after having medical or surgical treatments. These infections can happen when needles and tubes are inserted through a person's skin, which is the natural protection against bacteria and other organisms. Insertion of needles and devices provide a pathway for bacteria and other organisms to enter the blood stream and lungs. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have the highest risk of HAIs because of the number of procedures they undergo and the seriousness of their health problems. HAIs can aggravate a patient's illness and lengthen their stay in the hospital. They also can be passed on to other individuals.

The Guidance on Public Reporting of Healthcare-Associated Infections, published by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee in 2005, says that in hospitals alone, HAIs account for an estimated 2 million infections, 90,000 deaths, and $4.5 billion dollars in extra healthcare costs each year. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have policies and rules designed to minimize the occurrence of HAIs. Despite this, it is not possible to prevent all HAIs.

In 2004 the Missouri General Assembly passed a law requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to provide information to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) about HAIs in their facilities. Facilities are required to report central line-associated bloodstream (CLAB) infections, specific surgical site infections (SSIs), and ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs). The law also requires the DHSS to make this information available to the public.

Hospitals began reporting CLAB infections in July 2005. Each month hospitals report the number of CLAB infections in selected ICUs. Collection of data on SSIs from hospitals and ASCs began in January 2006. Reporting on VAPs has yet to begin. The DHSS and its advisory panel are researching the kind of data related to VAPs that would be both reliable and useful.

Facilities report CLAB infections by the type of ICU involved (medical/surgical, coronary, medical, surgical, pediatric, neonatal). Reporting by ICU allows for a fairer comparison between hospitals. It takes into account differences in the type of patients ICUs treat and the different risks for infection. SSIs are reported by procedure and the infection rates are adjusted to take into account differences in patient risk for infection due to factors such as the length of the surgery, the type of surgical wound for that procedure, and the patient's physical condition. Surgical procedures selected for SSI reporting are serious, are performed in a variety of facilities, and tend to be associated with HAIs. These procedures include abdominal hysterectomy, coronary artery bypass and hip repair procedures performed in hospitals, and breast and hernia procedures performed in ASCs.

This new information about HAIs gives consumers access to important information about healthcare facilities in their area and across the state. Of course this information should be only one of the pieces of information a consumer uses to choose a healthcare facility. Consumers should consider the experience of the facility staff, the advice of their physician, and all other factors that are unique to his or her situation, in addition to the infection data reported on this website. Facilities vary in the types of patients they treat, and a facility that treats severely ill patients will naturally be at higher risk for HAIs. We have used procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to adjust the infection rates so consumers can get an even picture among facilities. However, when reviewing the numbers people should keep in mind that these procedures are not perfect. Also, viewers should note any comments and/or explanations provided by a facility regarding its data.