Publication of Infection Rates on MyHospitals
2 November 2011
For the first time all Australians are able to see how well their local public hospital is controlling serious staph blood infections (staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia), with the release of hospital infection rates on the MyHospitals website.
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon made the announcement on the 27th of October 2011 at Bankstown Hospital.
“The Gillard Government believes that patients have a basic right to know about the performance of their public hospitals. The publication of infection rates caused by these potentially deadly bacteria will drive improved hospital performance,” Minister Roxon said.
“Hospital beds are important, but we want people to know what’s been hidden under the mattress. Now for the first time patients will be able to see how their hospital performs in controlling infections.
“Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is a serious bloodstream infection which is often associated with surgical and other invasive medical procedures.
“They are approximately 7,000 SAB infections each year. Often they can also be resistant to antibiotics.
“It can be difficult to treat, but infection can often be prevented by taking simple precautions. Improved hand washing especially for doctors, nurses, carers and hospital staff is one of the most effective ways of doing this.
“The numbers and rates of infections are available to all Australians for over 450 public hospitals, representing over 87% of patient bed days.
“The Gillard Government’s reform is delivering greater transparency and accountability in the health system. Through National Health Reform a new authority will report on all Australian hospitals, public and private alike, with more detailed information on patient care, safety and quality and health outcomes,” said Minister Roxon.
Ms Roxon said SAB had been accepted as a national indicator of patient safety and health care quality since 2008. Though incidence of infection was collected by all states and territories, it had not always been publicly reported at hospital level.
The national benchmark for SAB is no more than two infections per 10,000 occupied bed days for acute care public hospitals.
The MyHospitals website can be accessed at www.myhospitals.gov.au
MyHospitals presents information on hospitals throughout Australia and how they compare against national and state and territory data, including:
- Hospital profile
- Services offered
- Number of admissions
- Waiting times for emergency departments and elective surgery
- Safety and quality (Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia)
MyHospitals is based on the latest available information provided to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare by state and territory health departments for public hospitals, and by private hospitals that have elected to be included in MyHospitals.
MyHospitals is part of the performance and accountability framework of Australia’s National Health Reform Agreement.
The Chief Executive of the Australian Health Insurance Association, Dr Michael Armitage welcomed the Government’s decision to publish hospital acquired infection rates on the MyHospitals website as an important step towards improving health outcomes for all Australians. He congratulated the Government on moving towards greater transparency, in a move which he said “will be welcomed by consumers and which is long overdue. The expansion of MyHospitals from a website which provides information on patient admissions and services available to one which includes safety and quality performance indicators will give health consumers the option to make better informed decisions about their health care,” he said. >>>> Read More
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