The requirements for when incidents of ventilator-associated pneumonia shall be reported to the Department of Health and Senior Services was modified to provide that upon the recommendation of the infection control advisory panel, one or more quality indicators designed to better measure the risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia may be substituted for a risk-adjusted nosocomial infection incident rate.

Also, beginning January 1, 2009, the department shall require every licensed hospital to establish a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control program. The program shall establish procedures to isolate MRSA-infected patients or use alternative methods when private rooms are not available. In addition the program shall establish procedures to educate staff and to establish MRSA-infection control protocols.

ADRIANE CROUSE