By Healthcare Facilities Today

Estimates of healthcare-acquired infection in the U.S. underscore the need for a renewed focus on sustainable HAI prevention, but resources are required to uphold the viability of these programs, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website. Infection preventionists must establish a business case for their programs and present it to the healthcare facility's leaders.

According to the article, there are three reasons for making the business case for infection prevention:

• The desire to prevent suffering and death is a necessary and laudable goal but it does not pay the bills

• Life’s circumstances do not allow you to work for free

• You need the resources to carry out an effective infection control program

The main reason for making the business case is the decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not reimburse hospitals for potentially preventable events. The article notes that infection prevention is necessary for the survival of the facility as wells as the patient, the article said.

Read the article.