title: Perspectives on Federal Funding for State Health Care-Associated Infection Programs: Achievements, Barriers, and Implications for Sustainability.
abstract: In September 2009, federal funding for health care-associated infection (HAI) program development was dispersed through a cooperative agreement to 51 state and territorial health departments. From July to September 2011, 69 stakeholders from six states-including state health department employees, representatives from partner organizations, and health care facility employees-were interviewed to assess state HAI program achievements, implementation barriers, and strategies for sustainability. Respondents most frequently cited enhanced HAI surveillance as a program achievement and resource constraints as an implementation barrier. To sustain programs, respondents recommended ongoing support for HAI prevention activities, improved surveillance processes, and maintenance of partnerships. Findings suggest that state-level HAI program growth was achieved during the cooperative agreement but that maintenance of programs faces challenges.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ellingson
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffanee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woodard
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Williams
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Clifford
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jernigan
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA rls7@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Ronda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinkowitz-Cochran
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D013219:State Government
keywords: federal funding; health care–associated infections; qualitative research