Target Campaign

A Case in Point:

Tony Zalatan

Prior to being admitted to a hospital for an angiogram in November of 2002, Tony Zalatan was at the top of his game. He was an engineer at Lockheed Martin, stayed active by riding his rode bike over 300 miles each week, and was a newlywed. According to friends and family, Tony was having the time of his life.

The surgery was meant to repair a leaking mitro-valve in his heart; a defect that occurred as a result of a life-long heart murmuer. During the surgery, Tony contracted a staph infection. This infection led to a stroke that permanently damaged Tony's cognitive function.

Since the discovery of the staph infection, Tony has lost the use of both feet, the tips of his fingers, and is resigned to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. His wife of two years is now his primary care-giver, and Tony is working on rebuilding a life under the weight of his new limitations.

This story is not unique. Hospital-acquired infections occur daily in the U.S., and they are preventable if the right policies are enacted.

Click here to send your representatives a message to vote YES on HB06-1045!

Click here for a list of all of our current campaigns and messages.

What Will This Bill Mean If Passed?

Requires licensed medical facilities to collect data on hospital infections routinely.

Creates an advisory committee to assist the Department of Public Health and Environment to oversee procedures for collection and disseminating data.

Department of Public Health & Environment will be responsible for creating and disseminating reports to the public comparing infection rates from licensed medical facilities in the state.

Requires all patient information to remain confidential during the reporting.

HB06-HB 1045

Hospital infections are a costly public risk.

HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS

Sponsors: Rep. McCluskey, Sen. Keller

The Consumer Health Initiative supports the passage of HB06-1045. Hospital Infections are a costly public health risk.

1.9 million Americans acquire an infection resulting from a complication during a routine medical procedure each year. That is one out of every twenty patients.

Consequences of these infections include weeks, months, and years of rehabilitation and treatment potentially leading to permanent disability and loss of employment (CDC, 2002).

100,000 Americans die from hospital-acquired infections every year. That is more than auto accidents and homicides combined (CDC, 2002).

Infections can lengthen a patient's stay in the hospital by an average of 9.58 days and results in an additional cost of $36,656.

Legislative council estimates that Colorado's Medicaid program will save $3 million annually through reporting and reduction of hospital-acquired infections (2005, HB-112)

Click here for more information on this bill in .pdf format.