This National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Data and Reporting page covers areas such as Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI/AR) Reporting Requirements, Dashboards, Reports, and User Group Calls. Understand Washington State's hospital reporting standards, access annual HAI reports, and explore interactive dashboards. Whether you're an Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) facilitator, healthcare professional, or data enthusiast, find tools and information here. For inquiries, reach out to us using the provided email addresses in the Contact Us section.
Topics
HAI Reporting Requirements l HAI Reportable Events l Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Reporting l NHSN Reports and Dashboard l Washington NHSN User Group Calls l Contact Us
NHSN and HAI Reporting Requirements
The Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program monitors and validates data on reportable HAIs from Washington hospitals. Hospitals licensed by the Washington State Department of Health are required to report information about certain HAIs using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. Reporting requirements differ based on Healthcare Type.
The HAI Epidemiology team monitors reported HAIs, provides technical support to facilities on the use of NHSN, and partners with healthcare facilities to reduce preventable infections associated with healthcare.
For detailed information regarding Washington State reporting requirements:
- Overview - Healthcare-Associated Infection Reporting under 246-440-100 WAC (PDF)
- FAQ - Healthcare-Associated Infection Reporting under 246-440-100 WAC (PDF)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections Reporting Requirements (PDF)
- NHSN Data Use Agreement for Healthcare Facilities (PDF)
Some Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) and all suspected or confirmed healthcare outbreaks are reportable as notifiable conditions, separate from WAC 246-440-100. For more information on healthcare outbreaks, please see NEW LINK. For additional information on MDRO reporting, please see the List of Notifiable Conditions.
Reportable Events
Washington State updated WAC 246-440-100 Hospital reporting requirements for healthcare-associated infections effective January 2020 to align with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which includes five reportable HAIs. For more information on these conditions, click on the linked HAIs below to view the CDC’s webpage for that infection.
The graphic below shows the five reportable HAIs by body location.
- Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection with positive laboratory identification is represented by bacteria with an indicator to the location of the intestines.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia with positive laboratory identification is represented by bacteria, with an indicator to the location of major artery.
- Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is reportable following an inpatient procedure for Abdominal Hysterectomy (SSI-HYST) or Colon Surgery (SSI-COLO). SSI-HYST is represented by a surgical incision with an indicator to the location of the uterus. SSI-COLO is represented by a surgical incision with an indictor to the location of the colon.
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) Reporting
The AUR module is designed to track, analyze, and compare antimicrobial use and resistance data to reduce antimicrobial resistant infections. Beginning in calendar year 2024, all facilities participating in the Medicare Interoperability Program must be in active engagement to submit data to the AUR module. The resources below provide further information how to complete on the AUR reporting requirements.
CDC Resources
- CDC’S NHSN AUR Promoting Interoperability Guidance
Step-by-step directions to help facilities meet requirements - CDC’s FAQs: AUR Reporting for the CMS Promoting Interoperability Program
Contains answers to frequently asked questions about the AUR reporting requirements
CDC’S NHSN AUR Office Hours Presentation
NHSN Reports and Dashboards
Annual HAI Reports
Under RCW 43.70.056, WA DOH is charged with using data submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to compile and publish reports. This report provides comprehensive and detailed information on Washington hospital performance.
- 2023 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
- 2022 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
- 2021 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
- 2020 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
- 2019 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
- 2018 HAI Annual Report (PDF)
The CDC also publishes annual reports using data reported to NHSN’s Patient Safety Component, which presents national and state-level HAI Standardized Infection Ratios (SIRs) and Standardized Utilization Ratios (SURs).
HAI Validation Report
Hospitals licensed by the WA DOH are required to report information about certain HAIs using NHSN. Washington State law (RCW 43.70.056) requires that WA DOH regularly evaluate the quality and accuracy of required HAI reporting. To do so, the HAI & AR Program follows validation guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This report provides detailed information on WA DOH’s annual validation efforts.
- 2023 HAI Annual Validation Report (PDF)
- 2022 HAI Annual Validation Report (PDF)
- 2021 HAI Annual Validation Report (PDF)
HAI Event Dashboards
HAI Event Dashboards are currently available for all five reportable HAIs. The dashboards show annual Washington State data on HAIs that hospitals have to report. The dashboards display the last 5 years of available data.
- The Device-Associated HAI Dashboard includes data for CLABSI and CAUTI.
- The LabID Dashboard contains data for CDI and MRSA bacteremia.
- The SSI Dashboard includes data for SSI-COLO and SSI-HYST.
More information about the dashboards can be found on Washington Tracking Network’s HAI page.
Washington NHSN Support
The HAI/AR Program is happy to assist with questions and concerns regarding NHSN. For a list of all NHSN support options the HAI Epi Team can provide, see the NHSN Support from the HAI/AR Program (PDF).
NHSN Hospital User Group Call
The HAI Epi Team hosts a bimonthly informational meeting for hospital staff to discuss changes in NHSN reporting, review analysis of User Group data, and address any questions from NHSN users. This call takes place the second Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
This call is open to all hospital staff who use NHSN. If you are interested in attending the NHSN User Group call, email the HAI Epi Team at NHSNEpi@doh.wa.gov.
NHSN Long Term Care Facilities User Group Call
The HAI Epi Team also hosts monthly information meeting to provide NHSN updates, foster collaboration, and increase user knowledge. This call takes place the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The LTC NHSN User Group Call is open to all LTCF staff who use NHSN. If you are interested in attending the Monthly NHSN LTC User Group, email NHSNEpi@doh.wa.gov.
NHSN Antimicrobial Use (AU) User Group
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Team hosts quarterly user’s group for hospital antimicrobial stewards to support them in using NHSH AU data for action and in meeting the Tracking and Reporting Core Elements. This call takes place on the second Thursday of March, June, September, and December from 12:00 - 12:50 p.m.
If you are interested in attending or would like more information, email the AMS team at ams@doh.wa.gov.
Contact Us
For further information, reach out to one of our subject specific email addresses:
General HAI information
HAI@doh.wa.gov.
NHSN-related questions or concerns
NHSNEpi@doh.wa.gov
AUR module questions
ams@doh.wa.gov
COVID in healthcare setting
HAI-COVID@doh.wa.gov.
Reporter or data request
DOH-PIO@doh.wa.gov