Acute care facilities have significantly reduced the number of CLABSIs since the CMS non-payment rules went into effect in 2008. The CDC has reported that CLABSIs for hospitalized patients was 41% lower than expected in 2011. With this reduction however the number of hospital readmissions did not change significantly. The Affordable Care Act is a comprehensive legislation charged to improve the way healthcare is implemented, all while lowering costs. The Value Based Purchasing is part of the legislation specifically focuses on improving care and measuring standards from 3 days prior to, and extends 30 days post admissions. Requiring your acute care facility’s evidence based standards of care to be followed for the duration of the patient’s catheter, rather than only during hospital stay, can guard against the high costs of readmissions from CLABSIs.
One proven way to lower readmissions due to CLABSIs is standardizing catheter protocols across the duration of patient care. Creating a educated team of professionals that rely on communication and patient care, and mandating a standardized approach to line care and maintenance that mirrors inpatient policies can greatly reduced the chances of readmissions. This is important because as the Affordable Care Act grows and changes the landscape of the healthcare industry CLABSIs that are contracted outside of the acute care facility’s walls can impact hospital reimbursement and effect evidence based standards of care scores negatively.
