Hospital Infections Disclosure Act (HIDA) 2019 annual report to the General Assembly

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that are acquired in healthcare settings or as a result of medical procedures. In an effort to address HAIs and promote transparency in healthcare across South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control with the support of an advisory committee has enforced HAI reporting as mandated by the Hospital Infections Disclosure Act since 2006. This law requires the reporting of HAI data from acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to the public. HAI monitoring promotes infection prevention activities within healthcare facilities to improve patient safety.