Ontario's Mandatory Public Reporting of Surgical Site Infections Puts SSIs on the Public's Radar

Published Sunday, February 15 2009

TORONTO – Effective April 30, 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care is instituting mandatory public reporting of surgical site infection (SSI) rates at all Ontario hospitals. Currently, MRSA and C. difficile rates are also publicly reported.

Surgical site infections are devastating to patient safety and hospital budgets, but relatively unknown to the public despite being the second most common cause of hospital adverse events. Approximately 50,000 Canadians each year develop an SSI, doubling their risk of death, making them five times more likely to be readmitted and 60% more likely to require time in intensive care. On average SSI patients also spend eight additional days in hospital.

Most often, reports focus on the MRSA and C. difficile "superbugs" when, in fact, SSIs cost the cash-strapped Canadian healthcare system over $200 million and over 400,000 bed days annually. Paradoxically 40%-60% of all SSIs are considered preventable.

The Ontario Ministry of Health’s decision to institute public reporting of hospital SSI rates now helps elevate the awareness and visibility of surgical site infections to the public, allowing surgical patients to have access to and compare institutional SSI rates.

For Further Information

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/patient_safety/