National Healthcare Safety Network Reporting

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) receives healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and associated data from Virginia healthcare facilities through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), a surveillance system managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VDH epidemiologists quality assure the data, send feedback reports, and provide technical support to facilities on the use of NHSN.

In Virginia, the state HAI reporting requirements align with those of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). VDH reporting requirements will expand as CMS reporting requirements expand. Acute care hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis facilities, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are required to share HAI data with VDH through NHSN. HAI data are reported to VDH on a quarterly basis to align with CMS reporting deadlines; data are received on a 5.5-month delay.

Infection data are reported publicly in aggregate to ensure that no individual patient can be identified. Annual reports are posted to the VDH website so that healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, patients, and other interested parties can view the information. Data collected about HAIs give consumers access to information about healthcare facilities across the state. The information can help consumers ask physicians and hospital staff informed questions about facility infection prevention and control practices.

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