eBulletin October 2005 Edition 17
In this Edition:
Reminders:
! Type 2 Data Submission:
Quarter 2 Reports were released on 17th September 2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to
the VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 3, 2005 is Friday, 28th October 2005.
The corresponding report is then due to be posted mid-December 2005.
! Type 1 Data Submission:
Quarter 2 Reports were released on 17th September 2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to the
VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 3, 2005 is Friday, 4th November 2005.
The corresponding report is then due to be posted mid-December 2005.
Key Dates 2005: For more information on deadlines and dates, please click here
(link no longer available) for Key Dates 2005.
Type 1 Data Submission Update
A reminder that data for the 3rd Quarter 2005 (July/August/September) is due by Friday,
4th November. If you are using:
- paper based forms please forward all sheets via fax or mail as soon to assist us with data entry at VICNISS.
You can forward one month at a time if you have it ready now.
- an electronic database, Simon will be in contact with you to organise file transfer.
- All ICU forms can be forwarded now via fax - don't forget to attach the Algorithm sheets as well specific
to the type of data you are sending ie. VAP or bacteraemia
Please let Claire know if there is any anticipated difficulty with data submission by this date or if you have
deviated from the submitted VICNISS surveillance form.
Surveillance Plans for 2006 Type 1 hospitals will be called for mid November
following the inaugural meeting of the VICNISS Advisory Committee (discussed below) where performance indicators for Type 1 hospitals will be reviewed.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
A reminder that data for the 3rd Quarter 2005 (July/August/September) is due by Friday, 28th
October.
As noted in previous correspondence, a completed surveillance plan for each acute hospital
(or campus for each health service) is due to be forwarded to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre by
31st December 2005. There will be no new Process Indicators surveillance modules
offered for 2006. Hence VICNISS small hospitals (1-14 acute beds) will not be required to complete a process
indicator module. For VICNISS Medium hospitals (15-49 acute beds) this requirement is negotiable.
During 2006, different studies are to be undertaken to check the quality of data being submitted to the
VICNISS Coordinating Centre. Correspondence in regard to these studies will be forwarded at a later date.
Participating hospitals will be randomly selected.
VICNISS Advisory Committee
A new VICNISS Advisory Committee (VAC) has been formed and will have its first meeting on Wednesday, 26th October.
The membership has been updated and the new list can be viewed on our website. The new VAC will meet quarterly. At the first
meeting the Term of Reference are to be ratified. Once this has been done we will post them, and dates of
future meetings, on the website.
Performance Indicators 2006
At this week's meeting of the VICNISS Advisory Committee, a draft of updated Performance Indicators (PIs) for
participating hospitals will be discussed. One of the proposed changes is that all sites that undertake CABGS,
HPRO, or KPRO procedures undertake ongoing SSI surveillance, and any site with an ICU undertake continuous
surveillance for central line associated bloodstream infections in ICU.
Presently data quality is measured by assessing the proportion of risk factor data submitted. A
proposed addition to this is that all sites submit antibiotic resistance data for every infection,
and data on surgical antibiotic prophylaxis be complete.
Beginning in 2006, the VICNISS Coordinating Centre is required to supply DHS with data on PI's
for each hospital. DHS will use this information for Integrated Performance Reports which are submitted
to every hospital board and the Health Minister.
Following Wednesday's meeting, all sites will be notified of any changes to the PIs.
Type 1 "Introduction to VICNISS" Education Workshop Reminder
As there are a number of newcomers and there has been a bit of movement 'around the traps' VICNISS is holding another
introductory workshop. Content for the workshop will include a basic introduction to methodology for both SSI
and ICU components focussing on definitions and how to apply them, case finding, data forms and submission and,
also around the VICNISS report format, including how to read the reports, how to interpret
rates, "confidence intervals" and "p values". As the planning of the day will be dependent on numbers attending,
could you please RSVP to
vicniss @ mh.org.au or call 9342 2605 today.
DATE: Wednesday, 26th October 2005
TIME: 12.00pm lunch (provided) for 12.30 start (Finish approximately 4.30pm, dependent on numbers)
VENUE: VICNISS, 10 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne
Type 1 User Group - Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH)
A recent phone survey has highlighted the differences in HITH programs that exists in Victorian hospitals.
One of the issues highlighted was the difficulty in capturing hospital acquired infections in HITH patients.
To discuss how we can address some of these HITH issues, we have scheduled a User Group meeting specifically
for HITH. We will distribute more information about this User Group meeting shortly.
DATE: Thursday, 1st December 2005
TIME: 3.00pm - 4.30pm
VENUE: VICNISS, 10 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne
(click here for a Map, PDF File
88kb, opens in new window)
Could you please RSVP to
vicniss @ mh.org.au by Thursday, 24th November 2005.
Orthopaedic Costings Study Update (Type 1)
The final findings of the orthopaedic costings study will be presented at the upcoming VICPA conference late
November. Following the general release of data, hospitals that have participated in the study will receive cost
data in much the same way as the VICNISS Infection data is currently reported.
For example, each report will include a total 'aggregate' or average excess LOS and excess cost to
Victorian healthcare associated with the management and treatment of prosthetic joint infections and, a breakdown
of costs associated with superficial, deep and organ space infections, reported separately for hip and knee
procedures. Each participating hospital will also receive their own hospital level costs and more detailed
information on for example, how many excess LOS days were associated with the management of patients treated
exclusively for a SSI.
Preliminary results will be communicated to the Infection Control Coordinator prior to the release
of the final report to hospital CEOs and each health service Ethics committee (and copied to the ICCs) in December.
VICNISS and the Australasian Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons (ASCTS) Study (Type 1)
As we notified you in the June 05 eBulletin, a study is being undertaken in collaboration with ASCTS to
validate the VICNISS data, and to utilise some of the risk factor data submitted to ASCTS to study the
risk factors for SSI complicating CABG surgery. This study is progressing well and we hope to have some
preliminary results before the end of the year.
Type 1 & 2 Surveillance Manual Reviews
Both of the VICNISS Surveillance Manuals are due to be updated at the end of the year. If you have
suggestions or comments you would like to make in regard to content, please contact
VICNISS.
In particular, to assist case finding and application of the VICNISS Infection definitions the new version
of the Type 1 Surveillance Manual will include scenario based clinical cases. If you would like to
contribute to the scenario development with particularly 'curly' cases you have come across please contact
Claire Boardman.
Website Updates
We are presently undertaking a major review of the VICNISS website. Apart from keeping it up to date with the
latest information, we will be redesigning some areas.
Siginifcant changes include an improved consumer area, the introduction of an area where aggregate infection
rates will be made available, and abstracts from VICNISS conference presentations and accepted journal articles.
We will also be closing the Online Interactive Education site. However, a revised education area on the
main VICNISS website will contain the information in the modules, along with the exercises and answers
presented in a slightly less interactive manner. We will also be inlcuding a section with links to other
sites that have additional educational activities and resources.
VICNISS Coordinating Centre 2005-08
As you may already be aware, we were recently informed by DHS that Melbourne Health was awarded the contract
to continue operating the VICNISS Coordinating Centre. We would like to thank all those who have supported
us over the last few years, and look forward to working with you in the future. We feel privileged that we
have the ongoing opportunity to make a contribution in providing a safer environment for patients.
VICNISS Activities
There are many activities to undertake during this contract period whilst we continue to maintain the current
level of service. One of the major priorities will be the introduction of surveillance software that will
greatly minimise the amount of manual data collection. We will keep you updated with developments on the software.
Other priorities include the validation of CABGS, hip/knee arthroplasty and ICU CLABSI data through a
retrospective chart review, validation of Type 2 surveillance data, identifying surveillance issues in
HITH areas, costing analysis of SSIs for specific procedures, and review the NNIS Risk Index to name a few.
VICNISS Staff News
- Congratulations to our Education Consultant, Jane Motley, who delivered a baby girl, Tess, in July and
to our Infectious Disease Physician Deb Friedman, who delivered a baby boy, Elias this month.
- Finally, Claire has completed her Masters of Public Health, majoring in Health Economics and International Health.
