2016 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 24-31
The new law regarding prevention of hospital infection, which promotes local medical cooperation with healthcare facilities with additional charges, was enforced in 2012. The efficacy of this law was evaluated by a survey of 395 targeted hospitals in Osaka Prefecture in October 2013 and the results from 145 (36.7%) respondent hospitals were summarized. After enforcement of the law, the development of cooperation with other institutions was recognized in the hospitals charging additional fees, especially using the category 2 charge. Further cooperation is desirable in hospitals without additional charges. Collaboration between hospitals with and without additional charges is necessary for the improvement of infectious disease prevention. Better infection control could be achieved by the use of infection control networks established by both the participating hospitals and governmental institutions such as public health centers.
