Public Disclosure Will Encourage Hospitals to Improve Infection Practices

If consumers can choose a hospital based on good information about the quality of care, including hospital infection rates, hospitals will quickly implement better practices. Studies show significant improvement in states with public data on mortality rates and other indicators of quality. Yet only a few states require hospitals to report hospital-acquired infections and pass that information on to the public. Consumers have no way of knowing which hospital has the best track record to help them make informed health care choices.