According to a press release from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Alabama’s hospitals are performing better than average in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

“We publish an annual report that provides information on the number of infections per category and whether the hospital performs better than the national average, similar to it, or worse than,” said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “In addition to the report, our staff members work with hospitals to improve the accuracy of the reporting, education that not only helps with public reporting, but more importantly helps hospitals collect data that is valuable in their efforts to improve care.”

The report mentioned by Harris is the latest released by the ADPH and it shows that hospitals across the state are performing better than the national average in tow of four categories related to HAIs. Alabama performed better than average in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and colon surgery surgical site infection rates.

Elsewhere, the state performed even with national standards for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections.

“Alabama’s hospitals continue to focus on preventing infections through extensive staff training, use of evidence-based best practice and through data collection and review, such as the information provided in this report,” said Dr. Donald E. Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association.  “I’m proud of the work our hospitals are doing to ensure patients receive the very best care possible and to provide good information to consumers about this care.”

According to David McCormack, CEO of Vaughan Regional Medical Center, the local hospital has not had a single case of CLABSIs in over four years and no cases of CAUTIs in over two years.

“Just last year Vaughan was recognized by the Becker rating service as one of the top 50 hospitals in the US with the lowest complication rate,” McCormack said. “Our staff meet at the beginning, middle and end of each shift to discuss patients with potential risk and what needs to be done to ensure no harm comes to our patients.”