Hospital Settings

On March 21, 2005, the Virginia General Assembly approved House Bill 1570 that amended the Code of Virginia (by adding §32.1-35.1) to make information on selected nosocomial (i.e., healthcare-associated) infections reportable to VDH through NHSN. The Code further directed the Board of Health to develop regulations that specify the infections to be reported and the patient populations to be included. After significant consultation with stakeholders to determine the kind of data that would be both reliable and useful, the Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control were amended to add a section (12VAC5-90-370) related to HAIs. In Virginia, central line-associated bloodstream infection data from hospital adult intensive (critical) care units have been shared with VDH since July 2008.

On September 25, 2015, the HAI reporting regulations were amended to expand the amount of HAI data that are shared with VDH. The regulations aligned reporting to the state health department with what hospitals are already reporting to NHSN for the purposes of complying with CMS reporting requirements. See Table 1 for measures that are part of the state reporting requirements for acute care hospitals. Note that the table lists the current reporting requirements. VDH reporting requirements will expand as CMS reporting requirements expand.

Table 1. HAI Reporting Requirements for Acute Care Hospitals in Virginia

Long-term acute care hospitals are acute care hospitals that provide services and treatment for patients who are generally very sick and stay, on average, more than 25 days. There are five long-term acute care hospitals in Virginia.

In February 2019, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 2425, which amended the Code of Virginia (§32.1-35.1) to expand statewide surveillance for HAIs to additional healthcare settings. Under this bill, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) are required to share data with VDH as of July 1, 2019. Data required to be reported to NHSN to meet CMS requirements should be shared with VDH through the NHSN system. See Table 1 for measures that are part of the state reporting requirements for LTACHs. Note that the table lists the current reporting requirements. VDH reporting requirements will expand as CMS reporting requirements expand.

Table 1. HAI Reporting Requirements for Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals in Virginia

Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are hospitals, or part of a hospital, that provide intensive rehabilitation services using an interdisciplinary team approach. Admission to an IRF is appropriate for patients with complex nursing, medical management, and rehabilitative needs. There are ten freestanding IRFs and 18 rehabilitation locations within other hospitals in Virginia.

In February 2019, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 2425, which amended the Code of Virginia (§32.1-35.1) to expand statewide surveillance for HAIs to additional healthcare settings. Under this bill, inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are required to share data with VDH as of July 1, 2019. Data required to be reported to NHSN to meet CMS requirements should be shared with VDH through the NHSN system. See Table 1 for measures that are part of the state reporting requirements for IRFs. Note that the table lists the current reporting requirements. VDH reporting requirements will expand as CMS reporting requirements expand.

Table 1. HAI Reporting Requirements for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities in Virginia

Reporting

• Surveillance Tools for Enrolled Acute Care Hospitals (CDC) – NHSN protocols and resources specific to acute care hospitals
• CMS Reporting Resources for Acute Care Hospitals (CDC) – Operational guidance and monthly checklists for reporting for acute care hospitals
• CMS Care Compare – Public information about the quality of care at CMS-certified facilities; use to find hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, or long-term care hospitals (LTACHs) and compare facilities 
• Surveillance Tools for Enrolled Long-term Acute Care Hospitals (CDC) – NHSN protocols and resources specific to long-term acute care hospitals
• CMS Reporting Resources for Long-term Acute Care Hospitals (CDC) – Operational guidance and monthly checklists for reporting for long-term acute care hospitals
• CMS Reporting Resources for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CDC) – Operational guidance and monthly checklists for reporting for inpatient rehabilitation facilities 
• Surveillance Tools for Enrolled Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CDC) – NHSN protocols and resources specific to inpatient rehabilitation facilities  
• NHSN Hospital Respiratory Data – NHSN protocols and resources for acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities