Chambersburg Hospital among hundreds penalized for infection and injury rates

CHAMBERSBURG - Chambersburg Hospital is listed as one of 751 hospitals across the country that lost some federal funding because of high rates of infection and injury.

The government penalized 30 Pennsylvania hospitals by taking Medicaid funding, according to a report by Kaiser Health News. Chambersburg Hospital was penalized last year and this year, through the penalty that was created by the Affordable Care Act four years ago.

The penalties are given to hospitals with high rates of infections and injuries in patients, according to the Kaiser Health Report.

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Dr. Tom Anderson, the chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs for Summit Health, said Chambersburg Hospital was penalized primarily for C. difficle and MRSA infection rates.

The time frames analyzed were between July 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015, and Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2016, according to Anderson, who added that these infections are things hospital staff constantly monitor for improvement.

"In fact in 2017 we invested in state-of-the-art cleaning technology, Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping robots, that use UV-C light, which is proven to kill germs that cause infections such as C. difficile and MRSA," Anderson said. "C. difficile is especially difficult to kill since C. difficile spores can live on surfaces for four to six months, and are resistant to most antiseptic cleaning agents."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, C. difficle is a bacterium found in feces that causes inflammation of the colon, and can cause diarrhea and related symptoms. The elderly, particularly those taking antibiotics, are especially susceptible. 

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. It most often causes skin infections, and if left untreated can lead to the life-threatening sepsis. 

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The loss of funding to a "non-profit, community hospital" like Chambersburg is always negative, according to Anderson, but they see this as an opportunity for continued improvement.

"We follow evidence-based standards and continue to update our processes as standards change and new knowledge is obtained," Anderson said. "Our goal is to provide our neighbors with the high quality, safe care that they deserve. We continue to invest in the latest technologies to foster the safest environment we can for our patients."

Anderson said the main focus of the hospital is continuing to improve patient safety, and they have initiated changes to their procedures.

"We have made it easier for staff to report any and all safety concerns and are encouraging them to do so," Anderson said. "We audit compliance for all the necessary steps to ensure safe practices related to urinary catheters, blood stream infections, and surgical site infections."

Becky Metrick, 717-262-4762