Hospital Acquired Infection Notification Letter

Act 52, also know as the Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention and Control Act, was signed into law by Governor Edward G. Rendell July 2007.

Beginning January 1, 2008 hospitals are required to provide written patient notification of Health Care-associated infections. An exception was made for asymptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI).

If the patient is in the hospital when the infection is confirmed, one of the Infection Control Nurses will give the letter to the patient. If the patient has been discharged, the letter will be mailed to the patient. The letter will be individualized for each patient based on infection type. A copy of the letter will be sent to the attending physician or surgeon and the primary care physician (if identified on the patient record).

Questions can be addressed to Lisa Brosey, Patient Safety Officer or any of the Infection Control Nurses.

The following is an example of a letter.

April 3, 2008

Dear Jane Doe,

Lancaster General Hospital is committed to providing quality medical care to its patients and the communities it serves. Despite constant and committed efforts, sometimes patients acquire an infection during their hospital stay.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires all hospitals to provide a written letter to patients when an infection occurs. This letter is to inform you that an infection (pneumonia) was identified during your recent hospital stay. You may have been informed of this infection while in the hospital, but at times patients are discharged before final tests reporting an infection are available to your doctor.

This is also to advise you that the occurrence of the infection was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network, in accordance with Pennsylvania law (Act 52 of 2007). It is important to note that such reports are confidential under both state and federal law (meaning information reported is protected), and will allow us to analyze, monitor, improve patient care, and reduce the incidence of infections within our facility.

We encourage you to contact your physician if you should have any questions regarding the need for follow-up care. In addition, please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.