WSR 14-16-056
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed July 30, 2014, 8:57 a.m., effective August 30, 2014]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Chapter 246-440 WAC, creating a new chapter for health care associated infections (HAI) reporting. The department adopted a new reporting condition, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection to the HAI reporting requirements for acute care hospitals. The rule aligns state reporting with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network LabID event method.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.056.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 14-09-101 on April 22, 2014.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Jason Lempp, Department of Health, Health Associated Infections Program, P.O. Box 47811, Olympia, WA 98504-7811, phone (360) 236-4249, fax (360) 236-4245, e-mail jason.lempp@doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 30, 2014.
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
Chapter  246-440  WAC
HEALTH CARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS REPORTING
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-440-010 Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout the chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Health care-associated infection" means a localized or systemic condition that results from adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent or its toxins and that was not present or incubating at the time of admission to the hospital.
(2) "Hospital" means a health care facility licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-440-100 Hospital reporting requirements for health care-associated infections.
The purpose of this section is to provide access to data on hospital-specific rates of certain types of health care-associated infection. This type of data provides evidence-based information measures to reduce hospital-acquired infections.
(1) A hospital shall collect data related to health care-associated infections in compliance with RCW 43.70.056. Data must be collected and reported in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network on:
(a) Central line-associated bloodstream infection in all hospital inpatient areas where patients normally reside at least twenty-four hours;
(b) Surgical site infection for:
(i) Deep sternal wound for cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass graft;
(ii) Total hip and knee replacement surgery; and
(iii) Colon and abdominal hysterectomy procedures.
(2) A hospital shall also collect and report data for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network LabID Event method.