Healthcare-associated Infections

CDC and ASTHO Release Policy Toolkit for Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention

CDC & ASTHO Release Policy Toolkit The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have collaborated since July 2010 to advance state-level healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention efforts. State health agencies play a central role in HAI elimination and protecting patients across the healthcare system; they also serve as a bridge between healthcare and the community.

ASTHO and CDC have created a toolkit and companion report to provide guidance to senior policy makers on promising ways to use legal and policy interventions as tools in implementing a comprehensive state-level HAI prevention program.

The toolkit, Eliminating Healthcare Associated Infections: State Policy Options [PDF - 2.1 MB] provides an inventory of state HAI legislation and examples of legal and policy interventions, which health officials can consider to facilitate HAI prevention. State policies can promote robust state HAI programs and complement federal payment incentives such as CMS’s Value Based Purchasing program. These interventions can promote the principles of safety, accountability, and transparency that are central to preventing HAIs.

The companion report, Policies for Eliminating Healthcare Associated Infections: Lessons Learned from State Stakeholder Engagement [PDF - 5.4 MB] summarizes the outcomes of stakeholder meetings and phone consultations facilitated by the Keystone Center, regarding the early impact of HAI policies in states.

For questions about the toolkit or the companion report, or for additional information about the work ASTHO and CDC are doing to help states eliminate HAI, please contact us at CDCInfo@cdc.gov.