Hospital Engagement Networks target surgical site infections.

New preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) showed a 9 percent decrease in patient injuries in hospitals in 2012 compared with a 2010 baseline, and an 8 percent decrease in Medicare fee-for-service 30-day readmissions.2 The data also showed improvement on a range of measures for health care-associated infections (HAIs) and conditions, including for SSIs. HENs with other partners, including quality improvement organizations, the hospital Value-Based Purchasing program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other groups and agencies, have worked intensively to achieve these reductions.