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Memorial earns honor roll ranking for infection control

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is one of the four hospitals in Western New York and one of only two in Niagara County to receive Honor Roll ranking for preventing "Infections Due to Medical Care," according to the fourth annual New York State Hospital Report Card.

The 2006 report card was released June 18 by the state Alliance for Quality Health Care and the Niagara Health Quality Coalition.

This is the first time infection rates have been included in the report. Honor Roll recognition was accorded only to those hospitals whose infection rates were below the state average. Fewer than 45 hospitals in New York state were recognized for excellence in the new category.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2 million people contract infections during hospital stays each year and about 90,000 die as a result.

"Preventing infection is a primary goal of our entire medical center team – doctors, nurses, technicians, food preparers, housekeeping personnel – even our volunteers," said Jeanne Rodgers, RN, BSN, CIC, Memorial's infection control coordinator. "Everybody here plays a key role. Our patients deserve our best effort and we will continue to make this a daily priority."