Tennessee § 68-11-264 - Task force to clarify the interpretive guidelines for reporting unusual events with regard to Class I and Class II surgical site infections — Hospital-acquired infections.

§ 68-11-264. Task force to clarify the interpretive guidelines for reporting unusual events with regard to Class I and Class II surgical site infections — Hospital-acquired infections.

The commissioner of health shall establish a task force in order to clarify the interpretive guidelines for reporting unusual events with regard to Class I and Class II surgical site infections. The commissioner shall make appropriate appointments, including a chair, to the task force. The task force shall report to the commissioner on its progress no later than one (1) year after its appointment. The committee established by the department of health to report in response to chapter 323 of the Public Acts of 2005 shall continue to meet at least biannually in order to evaluate the reporting of healthcare acquired infections and make recommendations to the department and the Tennessee improving patient safety coalition (TIPS) for improvements in patient safety efforts. The department shall consult with the committee and other bodies and individuals with recognized expertise to determine the manner in which data collected from healthcare facilities in the state shall be publicly reported. The database shall be organized and presented in a manner such that consumers, healthcare organizations, healthcare professionals, purchasers and payers may examine an individual facility's reporting of healthcare associated infection trends, and, where available, compare the information to statewide or national benchmarks. As national consensus standards for infection reporting are developed and published, the committee shall review these consensus standards and make additional recommendations. The department shall report to the Tennessee general assembly regarding recommendations for improvement on healthcare acquired infections and reporting requirements adopted by the subcommittee on infections and the TIPS committee. The report shall include the department's response. The department of health is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to update reporting requirements as recommended by the committee. Acts 2006, ch. 904, § 2. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2005, ch. 323, § 1 provided that the department of health is directed to report to the health and human resources committee of the house of representatives and the general welfare, health and human resources committee of the senate on or before December 31, 2005, concerning hospital-acquired infections after consultation with the Tennessee improving patient safety coalition and program and receiving any recommendations from the coalition. The report shall address issues involving hospital-acquired infections raised by Acts 2005, ch. 323.