title: Prepare for enhanced scrutiny on infection control as regulators clamp down on unsafe practices related to health care-associated infections.
abstract: Government regulators are stepping up efforts to reduce harm from health care-associated infections (HAI) in 2014. This is expected to include unannounced visits to hospitals by inspectors from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Experts recommend that hospitals prepare for such visits by thoroughly reviewing the agency's revised worksheet for infection control, which reflects the latest guidelines and revisions. Further, administrators need to insure that staff are adhering to core best practices. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there are 1.7 million HAI every year, resulting in 99,000 to 100,000 deaths. The Department of Health and Human Services has devoted $1 billion toward cracking down on the problem in 2014. As a result, hospitals should expect surveyors who are more knowledgeable about infection control than in the past. ED administrators need to pay particular attention to the CDC's Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings.
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States