The 2008 “no-pay” rule adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to encourage hospitals to stop medical complications has led to consistently funded infection control departments, more collaboration with physicians and other front-line staff, and higher compliance with evidence-based guidelines.

More than 80% of infection-control professionals believe the CMS policy has led to greater focus on the health care-associated infections targeted under the rule, said a study published in the May American Journal of Infection Control. The study reported results of a survey of 317 infection preventionists at a nationally and industrially representative sample of hospitals. The journal is published by the 14,000-member Assn. for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

My latest. Read the whole shebang.