HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 62

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Gloria C. Vaughn

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE RATE OF INFECTIONS ACQUIRED DURING PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION.

     WHEREAS, patient infections acquired in hospitals and other health care settings are a growing concern among hospitals, patients, advocates, the insurance industry and public health officials; and

     WHEREAS, patient infections acquired during hospital stays are termed "nosocomial infections"; and

     WHEREAS, many patient infections are not discovered until after a patient's discharge from the hospital; and

     WHEREAS, one study reported that approximately one-third of nosocomial infections are preventable; and

     WHEREAS, the problem has grown to the point that a national conference on the subject is being held in Atlanta, including participants from the federal centers for disease control and prevention, a national professional association on infection control and epidemiology and an American hospital association; and

     WHEREAS, hospitals are not required to report all nosocomial infections in New Mexico, though they are required to report certain classes of infections; and

     WHEREAS, not all health care organizations and institutions recognize, gather and report consistent data on nosocomial infections; and

     WHEREAS, the federal centers for disease control and prevention publishes a national standard for identification of hospital-acquired infections; and

     WHEREAS, there is currently no uniformity in recording or reporting certain infections by New Mexico hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, one state reported a sharp decline in nosocomial infections after public reporting requirements were mandated;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico health policy commission, with the cooperation of the department of health, be requested to examine the best practices and current studies on nosocomial infections to determine if a uniform public reporting system is in the best public interest; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include participation by a statewide hospital and health systems association, an association of primary health care clinics, a statewide medical association, a statewide association of professionals in infection control and epidemiology and a state society of physician-surgeons; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health policy commission obtain and report the findings of the national meeting on nosocomial infections; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a recommendation on the advisability of all New Mexico hospitals using the federal centers for disease control and prevention nosocomial reporting standards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health policy commission report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee at the committee's October 2005 meeting; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico health policy commission, the legislative health and human services committee and the secretary of health.

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