Watching the bottom line: Enhancing the role and impact of infection control in a managed care environment

Health care expenditures exceeded $1 trillion in 1997, with projections for $2.2 trillion in expenditures by 2008. Decreasing organizational revenues and efforts to reduce operating costs have had a direct impact on infection control programs. Senior managers in hospitals and other provider organizations are focusing on achieving and maintaining revenues while controlling costs. Infection control professionals must align themselves and their programs with these organizational goals by (1) identifying areas in which the infection control program can support and enhances revenues, (2) facilitating the avoidance of excess costs for care, especially those related to nosocomial infection, (3) identifying opportunities for cost reduction through value analysis, and (4) participating in efforts to measure and prevent other adverse outcomes of care.