How do CAUTIs affect HAC Scores?


How do CAUTIs affect HAC Scores? - Blog

The CareDry® System provides the benefits of an external urinary management system through CAUTI prevention while self-regulating at a safe pressure point to minimize HAPIs. 

External female urinary management systems work to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). However, reports have been filed that specific systems increase the rate of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). The greater the incidence of CAUTIs and HAPIs, the more likely a hospital is subjected to a payment reduction.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services control payment administered for hospital care in which fees and penalties depend on specific quality measurements that make up the total HAC score. Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) are complications that occur once the patient is under hospital care. The HAC score has two domains.

Domain 1 makes up 15% of the HAC score and represents the patient safety indicator (PSI). Ten PSI’s are included1:

  • PSI 03: Pressure Ulcer
  • PSI 06: Latrogenic Pneumothorax
  • PSI 08: Postoperative Hip Fracture
  • PSI 09: perioperative Hemorrhage or Hematoma Rate
  • PSI 10: Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis Rate
  • PSI 11: Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate
  • PSI 12: Perioperative Pulmonary Embolism or Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • PSI 13: Postoperative Sepsis
  • PSI 14: Postoperative Wound Dehiscence
  • PSI 15: Accidental Puncture or Laceration

Domain 2 makes up 85% of the HAC score and is composed of different hospital-acquired infections. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) include:

-Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

-Surgical Site Infection (Abdominal Hysterectomy and Colon Procedures) (SSI)

-Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia

-Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI)

CAUTIs make up 1/5 of Domain 2, meaning they contribute 17% to the overall HAC score. If a hospital has more CAUTIs, the Domain 2 average increases, therefore raising the HAC score.

HAC scores range from -3 to +3, with -3 representing a good score and +3 representing a bad score. Hospitals with total HAC scores in the bottom 25th percentile (the worst-performing hospitals) face a 1% reduction in payment.

Looking for more information on intervention solutions? Be sure to check out the CareDry® System, non-invasive urinary management for women.

 


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Katherine Martin
Katherine Martin
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