On Tuesday, the Washington State Hospital Association launched an online tool that provides information on surgical infection rates at hospitals across the state, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports (Puget Sound Business Journal, 11/30).
Two state laws require officials to collect and publicize such data. The Web tool contains information on infections related to:
- Abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies;
- Heart bypasses and transplants;
- Heart valve and septum surgeries; and
- Knee and hip replacements.
Consumers can use the tool to examine individual hospitals and compare infection rates to national and state averages (Vesely, Modern Healthcare, 11/30).
The Web tool also includes information about whether each hospital follows certain infection prevention safeguards (Blankinship, AP/Seattle Times, 11/30).