title: Reporting infections. Mandatory vs. voluntary debate heats up as states enact legislation.
abstract: As more states mandate the reporting of health care-acquired infections and CMS spearheads a voluntary reporting initiative, hospitals ask: Is a patchwork of state regulations better than a nationwide mandatory or voluntary system? And when does all of this lead to "analysis paralysis," hindering hospitals' performance-improvement efforts?
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rollins
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D033161:Government Regulation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D011635:Public Health Administration; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D035141:Voluntary Programs