HCRS Assists in Reporting Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) Accurately.

HCRS is working with Advanta Medical Solutions, LLC to validate the accuracy of hospitals’ reporting of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) to the state. HAIs are infections acquired in the course of receiving health care. They are now the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 1.7 million HAIs in this country each year, resulting in about 100,000 deaths, and costing millions of dollars in lost productivity. For public health and safety reasons, it is critically important that government officials have accurate records of where these infections are occurring. Therefore, HCRS auditors, along with auditors from Advanta, audit a sample of medical records at hospitals around the state to ensure that HAIs are captured and accurately reported. The results of the audits are passed along to the Maryland Health Care Commission.