Maine Rep. Adam Goode (D-Bangor) has submitted proposed legislation that would require Maine hospitals and nursing homes to screen high-risk patients for MRSA before they are admitted into the healthcare facility.
Under the proposed bill, Maine hospitals and nursing homes would be required to screen the following high-risk patients:
• Patients admitted from another hospital/nursing home or discharged from a hospital/nursing home within one year
• Patients admitted from a correctional facility
• Patients admitted to a hospital intensive care department
• Patients receiving renal dialysis treatment
• Patients admitted in order to have surgery involving implantation of a knee, hip, cardiac valve or cardiac stent
• Patients from a geographic area with a local MRSA epidemic or endemic
• Patients that have previously tested positive for MRSA
The proposed legislation would also require healthcare providers to handle patients who have test positive for MRSA in a specific way. Hospitals and nursing homes would also have to conduct public reporting of MRSA infections to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read the proposed bill An Act to Strengthen the Laws on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and To Improve Health Care (pdf).
Read other coverage about infection control:
- Data Mining Useful in Preventing Death by Nosocomial Infection
- Hines VA CDI Severity Score Index Shows Strongest Correlation for Predicting Severe C. Diff Cases
- National Patient Safety Awareness Week Asks: "Are You In?"
Under the proposed bill, Maine hospitals and nursing homes would be required to screen the following high-risk patients:
• Patients admitted from another hospital/nursing home or discharged from a hospital/nursing home within one year
• Patients admitted from a correctional facility
• Patients admitted to a hospital intensive care department
• Patients receiving renal dialysis treatment
• Patients admitted in order to have surgery involving implantation of a knee, hip, cardiac valve or cardiac stent
• Patients from a geographic area with a local MRSA epidemic or endemic
• Patients that have previously tested positive for MRSA
The proposed legislation would also require healthcare providers to handle patients who have test positive for MRSA in a specific way. Hospitals and nursing homes would also have to conduct public reporting of MRSA infections to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read the proposed bill An Act to Strengthen the Laws on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and To Improve Health Care (pdf).
Read other coverage about infection control:
- Data Mining Useful in Preventing Death by Nosocomial Infection
- Hines VA CDI Severity Score Index Shows Strongest Correlation for Predicting Severe C. Diff Cases
- National Patient Safety Awareness Week Asks: "Are You In?"