Quality indicators for hospitals and clinics in Switzerland:
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), infection rate
Meaningful, risk-adjusted infection rates for hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) are currently available for 11 Swiss hospitals. 1,384 patients were followed in these hospitals. The average hospital infection rate for hysterectomy was 3.7%; the highest infection rate observed in one hospital was 7.4%. The lowest risk-adjusted infection rate for hysterectomy was measured at the Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur (0% nosocomial infections).
Measured as the ratio of expected and observed numbers of infections after certain types of surgery.
Strengths:
Infections are risky and associated with more distress. A low infection rate is an indicator of good hygiene and a high quality treatment process. The infection rates are risk adjusted by Swissnoso using three additional measurements. This elaborate form of risk adjustment fulfills high scientific standards.
Limits:
Unfortunately, infection rates are not available for all interventions. It is not sure that results are transferable to similar interventions. Also, infection rates are only meaningful when a sufficient number of cases is reached. Especially with interventions with a low risk of infections the needed number of cases is very high and is only reached by large hospitals. For small hospitals it is often not possible to give a meaningful statement (while small case numbers are per se unfavorable, especially with complex interventions).
4.3
3.5