[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16125-16126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7227]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Call for Co-Sponsors for Office of Healthcare Quality's Programs 
to Strengthen Coordination and Impact National Efforts in the 
Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Healthcare 
Quality.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office 
of Public Health and Science (OPHS), Office for Healthcare Quality 
(OHQ) announces the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS invites public and private 
professional health related organizations to participate as 
collaborating co-sponsors in the development and implementation of an 
innovative program that advances the goals enumerated in the HHS Action 
Plan to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections.

DATES: Expressions of interest for FY 2010-11 must be received no later 
than cob April 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest, comments, and questions may be 
submitted by e-mail to [email protected]; by regular mail to Office of 
Healthcare Quality, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 
Independence Ave., SW., Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201, or via fax to 
202-401-9547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Gallardo via electronic mail to 
[email protected]; or by phone at 202-690-2470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) 
exact a significant toll on human life. They are among the leading 
causes of preventable death in the United States, accounting for an 
estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in 2002. 
In hospitals, they are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. 
In addition to the substantial human suffering caused by healthcare-
associated infections, the financial burden attributable to the 
infections is staggering. It is estimated that healthcare-associated 
infections cause $28 to $33 billion in excess healthcare costs each 
year. For these reasons, the prevention and reduction of healthcare-
associated infections is a top priority for the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).
    The HHS Steering Committee for the Prevention of Healthcare-
Associated Infections, led by Dr. Don Wright, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Healthcare Quality, was established in July 2008. The 
Steering Committee was charged with developing a comprehensive strategy 
to prevent and reduce healthcare-associated infections and issuing a 
plan which establishes national goals for healthcare-associated 
infection prevention and outlines key actions for achieving identified 
short- and long-term objectives. The plan, released in January 2009 as 
the HHS Action Plan, is also intended to enhance collaboration with 
external stakeholders to strengthen coordination and impact of national 
efforts.
    Therefore, OHQ is interested in establishing partnerships with 
private and public professional health organizations in order to 
further the efforts in the prevention of Healthcare-Associated 
Infections. As partners with OHQ, professional health related 
organizations can bring their ideas, expertise, administrative 
capabilities, and resources in the development of a program(s) that 
promotes the reduction and prevention of Healthcare-

[[Page 16126]]

Associated Infections at the National level.
    Given OHQ's objective, entities which have similar goals and 
consistent interests, appropriate expertise and resources, and which 
would like to pursue a Co-Sponsorship opportunity with OHQ, are 
encouraged to reply to this notice with a program proposal. Working 
together, these partnerships will provide opportunities to promote the 
prevention and reduction of healthcare-associated infections.

    Dated: March 22, 2010.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Healthcare Quality, Office of Healthcare 
Quality, Office of Public Health and Science.
[FR Doc. 2010-7227 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P