Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors Names Infection Advi...( Group represents healthcare profess...),Health

Group represents healthcare professionals from across Pennsylvania with

substantial experience in infection control management and practice

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority's Board of Directors today approved a 13-member panel of infection control experts to help implement Act 52 of 2007. The act was signed into law by Governor Ed Rendell in July to help reduce and eliminate healthcare-associated infections in Pennsylvania's hospitals and nursing homes.

The Authority plans to hold the first meeting of the panel in October. Members of the panel had to meet certain criteria to be considered for appointment.

"We are fortunate that high caliber infection control experts have agreed to serve on the panel," Dr. Ana Pujols-McKee said, chair of the Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors. "Their dedication and success in combating infections is substantial and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure all Pennsylvania hospitals and nursing homes can reduce and eliminate healthcare-associated infections in their facilities."

At the board meeting the Authority also discussed Act 52 and gave tentative implementation plans regarding reporting for hospitals and nursing homes. The Authority's Interim Executive Director Mike Doering stressed that due to the other agencies involved with implementation of Act 52, it is difficult to give specific dates, but the Authority does have some timeframes for the hospitals and nursing homes to keep in mind.

"I anticipate that hospitals will be reporting the new infection data to us by next spring and nursing homes will be reporting to us at the earliest next July," Doering said. "We are working with the other agencies involved to make sure that as soon as the new reporting format is determined, reporting will begin as soon as possible."

In regard to nursing homes, Doering said the method for receiving the infection dat
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