Working to stop the spread of infections in health care settings, focusing on transparency, accountability, timely data, inappropriate use of antibiotics, public awareness.

COMMITTEE:

• Infection Prevention/COVID-19 Committee
• Leader: Lisa McGiffert

ACTIONS:

• Helen Haskell is interviewed about an ongoing (3 year) outbreak in the NICU unit of Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Henrico County Virginia; Inspectors with the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Licensure and Certification found during a survey completed January 24 that the hospital failed to consistently implement methods to prevent and control the transmission of infections within the hospital. (2025)
• PSAN works with the Council for Outbreak Response: Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens (CORHA) on policies addressing hospital acquired infection outbreaks. PSAN member Lisa McGiffert attends meetings with public health leaders from across the US and participates in monthly meetings of the policy workgroup. (2022-2025)
• PSAN works with public health leaders to create a framework to guide what hospitals and other health facilities should do in response to infection outbreaks (August 2022)
• Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Is Killing Patients. Yet There Is a Simple Way to Stop It. Includes the story of PSAN advocate Kathy Day’s father. (2022)
• PSAN Comment Letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposal to eliminate the collection and public reporting of certain hospital patient safety measures. (June 2018)
• COVID – 19 The Vaccination: Your experience matters
• What needs to be Urgently Done to Stop the COVID-19 Pandemic
• What Seniors Should Know Before Going Ahead With Elective Procedures

RESOURCES:

• We’ll Know We’ve Won the War Against COVID-19 When…
• The Coronavirus Explained & What You Should Do