As reported in Philly.com, hospital officials in Pennsylvania agree on the need to reduce infections acquired in their institutions but oppose efforts to require reporting them electronically via a single statewide system. The Hospital and Healthsytem Association of Pennsylvania deem such technology as “very costly” particularly for small hospitals, and many hospitals require help for investing in information technology.
Lawmakers this month are reviewing legislation that would reduce hospital-acquired infections, one of several initiatives Gov. Rendell is pushing in his broad “Prescription for Pennsylvania” intended to reduce the cost and widen the availability of health care.