Medical Devices Pose Big Infection Threat

CMS Impact

Many healthcare workers are concerned about the consequences of the new CMS changes, but many admit that one advantage is that people will pay more attention to device-related infections.

“I don’t think there’s any question they will,” Maki says. “They have already, I think. The beneficial side of the CMS changes and the Joint Commission’s greater focus in this area has been that hospital administrations have become more cognizant of the issue of infection control. Busy hospital administrators realize they should have an infection control program but it’s not considered a revenue-generating program.

“We who work in infection control know all too well that we save hospitals tons of money,” Maki adds. “We’re a revenue generating program because by preventing infections we save enormous amounts of money that would otherwise be lost. And now the hospital administrators have a direct interest financially because they can still be non-cognizant of the fact that we’re saving them money but they realize that if a patient gets an infection, it’s going to cost them additional money.”

Darouiche agrees that the CMS changes will not be ignored.

“The recently established CMS guidelines will prompt healthcare providers, infection control groups, and hospital administrators to ponder optimal methods for preventing hospital-acquired device-related infections that would be considered preventable but not reimbursable by CMS,” Darouiche says.