HAC - re-admission for post op infection?

renmeyer@sbcglobal.net

Our CDI team was recently informed to report HAC's when a patient had any type of ortho surgery and was readmitted with a post-op infection within 30 days of surgery. Is this correct?  Would a re-admission for post-op infection within 30days for any surgery be considered a HAC? Considering patient went home without any s&s of infection. 

I thought it is only certain ortho condition (spine, shoulder, elbow) infections that would be considered HAC's. 

Thank you for your input!

Renee, RN, CCDS

lprescott1

A HAC is a specific group of conditions that were identified by CMS as being preventable and lead to increased costs. By definition a HAC would be identified with a POA indicator of N- (not present on admission) as the condition developed while under your care. I think you are confusing a HAC with a HAI - or hospital associated infection (nosocomial). The situation you describe above would not trigger a HAC as the patient is READMITTED with a post op infection- meaning the infection was present on admission. This occurrence would be identified as a complication of a surgery and reported as a hospital associated infection. 

renmeyer@sbcglobal.net

Thanks for the input.  Our manager confused it but we did clarify it with her in the meantime.