[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70722-70723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29489]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Request for Co-Sponsors for the Office of Healthcare Quality's 
Programs To Strengthen Coordination and Impact of National Efforts in 
the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary,

[[Page 70723]]

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Healthcare 
Quality.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of 
the Secretary (OS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), 
Office of Healthcare Quality (OHQ) announces the opportunity to 
collaborate with 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 implements the HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated 
Infections (HHS Action Plan), found at http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hai/actionplan/index.html, by using appropriate strategies 
to achieve one or more of the nine targets for the priority areas 
identified in the HHS Action Plan, for example, a 50 percent reduction 
in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) by the end 
of 2013. A ``co-sponsorship'' refers to the joint development of a 
program or event related to the goals and objectives of the HHS Action 
Plan and excludes programs or events that would require funding for 
their implementation from HHS, OS, OASH, or OHQ.

DATES: Expressions of interest for FY 2011-12 must be received no later 
than close of business on November 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest, comments, and questions may be 
submitted by Email to [email protected]; and by regular mail to Office of 
Healthcare Quality, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 730E, Washington, DC 20201, or via fax to 
(202) 401-9547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Gallardo via electronic mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Healthcare-associated infections exact a 
significant toll on human life. They are among the leading causes of 
preventable death in the United States. On average, 1 in 3 patients 
admitted to a hospital suffers a medical error or adverse event and at 
any given time about 1 in every 20 patients is affected by an infection 
related to hospital care. And, on average, 1 in 7 Medicare 
beneficiaries is harmed in the course of care, costing the government 
an estimated $4.4 billion every year. For these reasons, the prevention 
and reduction of healthcare-associated infections is a top priority for 
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 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 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 programs that promote the reduction and 
prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
    Given OHQ's objective, entities that have similar goals and 
consistent interests, appropriate expertise and resources, and that 
would like to pursue a co-sponsorship opportunity with OHQ, are 
encouraged to reply to this notice with a conceptual proposal outlining 
the proposed program or event, including information regarding the 
program's or event's objective(s) and anticipated outcome(s). The 
proposal should not exceed more than two pages.
    Working together, these partnerships will provide opportunities to 
promote the prevention and reduction of healthcare-associated 
infections.

    Dated: November 9, 2011.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Healthcare Quality.
[FR Doc. 2011-29489 Filed 11-14-11; 8:45 am]
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