The impact of measurement changes on evaluating hospital performance: The case of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019 Nov;40(11):1269-1271. doi: 10.1017/ice.2019.240. Epub 2019 Sep 16.

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in 592 hospitals immediately declined after federal value-based incentive program implementation, but this was fully attributable to a concurrent surveillance case definition revision. Post revision, more hospitals had favorable standardized infection ratios, likely leading to artificial inflation of their performance scores unrelated to changes in patient safety.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Catheter-Related Infections / epidemiology*
  • Catheters, Indwelling / adverse effects*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Intensive Care Units*
  • Patient Safety
  • Quality Improvement*
  • Reimbursement, Incentive
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Urinary Catheterization
  • Urinary Catheters / adverse effects
  • Urinary Tract Infections / epidemiology*