HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) represents a culmination of several months of deliberation by subject matter experts across HHS to identify key actions in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. The initial version of the Action Plan was released in January 2009. Since that time, HHS solicited public comment, and the June 2009 revision to the Action Plan incorporates feedback received during this initial comment period. The links listed below will take you to the revised Action Plan document:

HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (complete document, printable PDF - 424 KB) (June 2009)

HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (in sections) (June 2009)

Please note Appendix G regarding revisions to the Action Plan metrics and targets.

The HHS Action Plan working group chairs’ presentation from national and regional stakeholder meetings conducted in Summer and Fall 2009 summarizes changes to the Action Plan in response to written comments as well as each working group’s scope of work.

Healthy People 2020 Proposes Two Objectives to Address Healthcare-Associated Infections

What is Healthy People?

Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease. Since 1979, Healthy People has set and monitored national health objectives to meet a broad range of health needs, encourage collaborations across sectors, guide individuals toward making informed health decisions, and measure the impact of our prevention activity.

Designing Healthy People for the Next Decade

Every 10 years, HHS leverages scientific insights and lessons learned from the past decade, along with new knowledge of current data, trends, and innovations. Healthy People 2020 will reflect assessments of major risks to health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation's health preparedness and prevention. In 2010, the Healthy People 2020 objectives will be released along with guidance for achieving the new 10-year targets.

For the first time, Healthy People includes Healthcare-Associated Infections as a topic area. This includes proposing two new objectives on healthcare-associated infections:

For more information on Healthy People, please see: http://healthypeople.gov