On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed two measures that will increase the state's scrutiny of hospital-acquired infections, the Fresno Bee reports.
Under SB 1058 by Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), hospitals will have to:
- Screen high-risk patients for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus within 24 hours of admission to the hospital; and
- Report rates for the most serious infection outbreaks to the state.
The law will take effect next year, and the state Department of Public Health will begin posting infection rates for individual hospitals online in 2011.
In addition, SB 158, by Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter), will require hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to develop patient safety plans and new staff training procedures aimed at preventing hospital-acquired infections (Schultz, Fresno Bee, 9/25).
In 2004, Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill, maintaining that industry efforts to scrutinize infection programs were working (Rau, Los Angeles Times, 9/26).