Virginia HAI Report Limitations
Consider the following when interpreting the information presented
in the healthcare-associated infection data:
- Age, underlying illnesses, and severity of disease place some patients at higher risk for infection.
- Hospitals that treat more complex patients with greater risk of infection may have higher rates.
- It is not advisable to try to compare the data from one hospital to another. Rates are affected by the types of patients seen in a hospital, the types of services provided by the hospital, the frequency of central line use, the intensity of surveillance efforts, and the interpretation of surveillance criteria, all of which can differ from hospital to hospital and make comparisons invalid.
- Sometimes high rates are based on small numbers, so both the
number and the rate should be reviewed. A higher rate of infection may indicate a true problem or simply better
surveillance. A lower rate may reflect fewer infections, fewer high risk patients, or different levels of infection surveillance.
- Some hospitals may not be included in this report because they did not utilize central line catheters for the report period.
- Infections are identified by trained hospital staff using standardized definitions. Data are reported directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infection information is presented, but not validated, by the Virginia Department of Health.
Remember: One single measure cannot be used to determine the overall quality
of a hospital. You should talk to your physician and look at other sources of
information when deciding where to receive care.
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Epidemiology
109 Governor Street, Suite 516 East
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Contact us by Email
Phone: 804-864-8141 - Fax: 804-864-8139
