Upstate New York hospitals are making great strides in infection control, that's according to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
According to the report:
- Surgical site infection rates in upstate New York hospitals decreased by almost 8 percent between 2008 and 2011, when surgical site infection rates among New York state hospitals decreased 3 percent. During that time, surgical site infection rates dipped 33 percent in the Finger Lakes region.
- In 2011, the Finger Lakes region had the lowest surgical site infection rate in upstate New York.
- Between 2008 and 2011, central line-associated bloodstream infection rates in upstate New York decreased 46 percent, while central line-associated bloodstream infection rates in New York state hospitals decreased 42 percent.
If upstate New York hospitals could lower the number of hospital-acquired infections by even 20 or 40 percent, there would be 5,000 to 10,000 fewer infections and 200 to 400 associated deaths. That would also annually save upstate New York hospitals between $68 million and $137 million dollars.