ATTENTION GENERAL HOSPITALS
CAUTI REPORTING BEGINS July 1, 2013

On April 12th, 2013 an amendment to the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 200 regarding Health care-Associated Infections (HAI) Reporting was published in the Texas Register. This amendment adds reporting of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) that occur in General Hospital ICUs starting July 1, 2013. The first Texas data display reports displaying CAUTI data will not be published until June 2014. CAUTI reporting should cause limited additional burden for most health care facilities because many are already reporting these data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.

CAUTI will be reported to Texas using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Starting July 1, 2013, facilities must:

add CAUTI reporting in ICUs to their NHSN monthly reporting plans;

enter urinary catheter days in their Summary Data records; and

enter CAUTI Events into NHSN

In January 2014, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will update the Texas NHSN group Confer Rights Templates to add CAUTI reporting. When this happens, DSHS will send a notification to the affected Texas NHSN Facility users and hospitals will be required to accept the new template.

For questions or concerns, please contact David.Rhinehart@dshs.state.tx.us or HAITexas@dshs.state.tx.us or by phone at 512.776.6878.

***ATTENTION GENERAL HOSPITALS
CAUTI REPORTING BEGINS July 1, 2013***
On April 12th, 2013 an amendment to the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 200 regarding Health care-Associated Infections (HAI) Reporting was published in the Texas Register. This amendment adds reporting of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) that occur in General Hospital ICUs starting July 1, 2013. The first Texas data display reports displaying CAUTI data will not be published until June 2014. CAUTI reporting should cause limited additional burden for most health care facilities because many are already reporting these data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. CAUTI will be reported to Texas using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Starting July 1, 2013, facilities must: add CAUTI reporting in ICUs to their NHSN monthly reporting plans; enter urinary catheter days in their Summary Data records; and enter CAUTI Events into NHSN In January 2014, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will update the Texas NHSN group Confer Rights Templates to add CAUTI reporting. When this happens, DSHS will send a notification to the affected Texas NHSN Facility users and hospitals will be required to accept the new template. For questions or concerns, please contact David.Rhinehart@dshs.state.tx.us or HAITexas@dshs.state.tx.us or by phone at 512.776.6878.

NHSN Launches New Capabilities

NHSN released a new tracking component allowing nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to monitor healthcare-associated infections. The new NHSN component allows facilities to track Clostridium difficile, drug-resistant infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), urinary tract infections, and healthcare worker adherence to basic infection control procedures including hand hygiene and glove and gown use.

Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Module

Acute care hospitals participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will be required to submit summary data on influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel via NHSN beginning on January 1, 2013 for the 2012-2013 influenza season.

Electronic Submission of Dialysis Events

NHSN is now able to accept Dialysis Event numerator and denominator data electronically via a Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) file import. Questions about electronic reporting to NHSN via CDA can be sent to the NHSN CDA Helpdesk at nhsncda@cdc.gov.

Third Phase of HAI reporting for Texas Begins January 1, 2013

For ASCs and General Hospitals:

REMINDER: The third phase (and last phase for this set of HAIs) of Mandatory Health Care-Associated Infection (HAI) reporting for Texas begins January 1, 2013. Data on the following procedures need to be entered into NHSN and rights conferred to Texas: Abdominal (HYST) and Vaginal (VHYS) Hysterectomies, Colon (COLO), Peripheral Vascular Bypass (PVBY), Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA), and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) surgeries and their related Surgical Site Infections (SSI). You should currently be reporting Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) for ICU, CCU, and NICU and Knee Prosthesis (KPRO), Hip Prosthesis (HPRO), Coronary Artery Bypass Graft with chest incision only (CBGC), and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft with both chest and donor site incisions (CBGD) surgeries and their related Surgical Site Infections (SSI) for Texas reporting. Make sure you have conferred rights to HAITexas in NHSN. See the Guide to Conferring Rights (PDF) and Guide to Conferring Rights Appendices. If you have already conferred rights to HAITexas, just be sure to add VHYS, HYST, COLO, PVBY, CEA, and AAA to your Monthly Reporting Plan in NHSN and begin reporting your data. If you do not perform any of these procedures, then you do not have to alter your Monthly Reporting Plan.

For questions or concerns, please email HAITexas@dshs.state.tx.us or call 512.776.6878

For Pediatric Hospitals:

REMINDER: The third phase (and last phase for this set of HAIs) of Mandatory Health Care-Associated Infection (HAI) reporting for Texas begins January 1, 2013. Data on the following procedures need to be entered into NHSN and rights conferred to Texas: Spinal Fusion (FUSN), Refusion of Spine (RFUSN), and Laminectomy (LAM) surgeries and their related Surgical Site Infections (SSI). You should currently be reporting Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) for ICU, CCU, and NICU and Ventricular Shunt (VSHN) and Cardiac (CARD) surgery including Heart Transplant (HTP) and their related Surgical Site Infections (SSI) for Texas reporting. Make sure you have conferred rights to HAITexas in NHSN. See the Guide to Conferring Rights (PDF) and Guide to Conferring Rights Appendices. If you have already conferred rights to HAITexas, just be sure to add FUSN, RFUSN, CARD, and HTP to your Monthly Reporting Plan in NHSN and begin reporting your data. If you do not perform any of these procedures, then you do not have to alter your Monthly Reporting Plan.

For questions or concerns, please email HAITexas@dshs.state.tx.us or call 512.776.6878

CEOs of Texas Hospitals and ASCs receive HAI reporting notice
September 15, 2011

A letter detailing health care-associated infections (HAI) reporting requirements was sent to Chief Executive Officers or Senior Administrators of every hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) on record with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The letter lists what type of facility is required by law to report HAIs and what procedures are reportable. HAI reporting uses the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance system and requires each reporting facility to enroll with NHSN. All facilities must return either a "required to report" or "not required to report" contact information form to DSHS. Click to read the CEO letter.

HAI Reporting Start Date: October 1, 2011

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. David Lakey announced mandatory HAI reporting will begin October 1, 2011. The initial reporting metrics will be central line-associated bloodstream infections identified in intensive care units and knee arthroplasties performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. Ventricular shunt procedures are to be reported by pediatric facilities. Additional metrics will be added for reporting in January 2012. Data to be reported will be submitted to NHSN.

Governor Signs HAI Legislation

Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 7 amending existing law (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 98) on health care-associated infection reporting in Texas. The bill allows for the use of NHSN and eliminates the “rule of 50” alternate reporting.

NHSN Communication

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) updates

CDC Newsletters

Centers for Disease Control Newsletters for State Partners in HAI

What's New