'Medical Benchmarking Is Deadly'

Betsy McCaughey accuses New York's health care community of being complacent about reducing hospital infections [Opinion, "Medical Benchmarking Is Deadly," July 21, 2008].

Nothing could be further from the truth. While New York's hospitals are pleased Ms. McCaughey shares their deep commitment to reducing infections, she is not entitled to her own facts.

The real story? We are national leaders in reducing infections, and strongly supported the State Health Department's report on hospital-acquired infections.

That report will help hospitals better understand where they need to improve so they can take aggressive action. Future reports will include hospital-specific infection rates.

And that's fine, because while hospitals prefer good press to bad, we know that transparency and accountability educate consumers and improve the quality of care for all New Yorkers.

Ms. McCaughey correctly praised the marvelous work of Beth Israel Medical Center in dramatically reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Beth Israel's efforts were part of a highly successful 46-hospital collaborative to reduce central line infections in medical and surgical intensive care units.

We agree with Ms. Mc-Caughey that there is much more work to be done. That's why 36 hospitals have launched a project to reduce a very contagious infection — cited by Ms. McCaughey — known as c. difficile.

Hospitals strive every day to prevent all complications and adverse events that are within their control. Far from being complacent, we are leading the way in creating a culture of safety and moving us closer to a day when preventable infections are truly eliminated.

KENNETH RASKE
President
Greater New York Hospital Association
New York, N.Y.