Magnet hospitals more likely to reduce MRSA infections in diverse patients

A study found Magnet hospitals located in areas with more diversity are more likely to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in Medicare patients compared with their non-Magnet hospital counterparts. Previous research has shown hospitals in more diverse areas are more likely to perform poorly in reducing hospital-acquired conditions. Published in the October issue of the Journal of Patient Safety, the authors postulate there may be other opportunities for Magnet hospitals to “continue process improvement focused on additional Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program measures.” The investigators conducted a cross-sectional observational study using data from the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction program. They evaluated performance data from 1,823 hospitals to assess the association between Magnet designation and the community’s racial and ethnic differences in hospital performance.