PRINTER'S NO. 3094
No. 516 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, THOMAS, GEIST, MANDERINO, BALDWIN, BEBKO-
JONES, BIANCUCCI, E. Z. TAYLOR, BOYD, CAUSER, CRAHALLA,
COHEN, CURRY, DAILEY, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, FORCIER, FABRIZIO,
GEORGE, GERGELY, GRUCELA, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HORSEY, JAMES,
JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, LEVDANSKY,
MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, MUNDY, PALLONE, PETRARCA, PISTELLA,
PRESTON, READSHAW, ROBERTS, SCRIMENTI, SOLOBAY, TANGRETTI,
TIGUE, WALKO, WANSACZ, WHEATLEY, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD,
DECEMBER 15, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
DECEMBER 15, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Establishing a task force to investigate the incidence and
2 causality of hospital-acquired infections.
3 WHEREAS, Almost 100,000 patients nationwide die each year
4 from hospital-acquired infections; and
5 WHEREAS, Every year 75,000 people in this country die of
6 staph infections in hospitals; and
7 WHEREAS, Common instruments, such as urinary catheters, are
8 responsible for more than 40% of hospital-acquired infections;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The risk of suffering a hospital-acquired infection
11 has increased 36% in the last 20 years; and
12 WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
13 Prevention, the rate of sepsis infections rose an average of 16%
14 a year from 1979 to 1999; and
1 WHEREAS, About one-half of all hospital-acquired infections
2 are preventable; and
3 WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently published a
4 disturbing report regarding serious and life-threatening
5 infections acquired in hospitals in the Pittsburgh area; and
6 WHEREAS, This report was initiated in response to a drug-
7 resistant bacteria outbreak at Allegheny General Hospital in
8 October 2002; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives create a task
10 force to investigate the incidence and causality of hospital-
11 based infections; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the task force consist of the following
13 members:
14 (1) The chairman and minority chairman of the Health and
15 Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
16 (2) The chairman and minority chairman of the Insurance
17 Committee of the House of Representatives.
18 (3) A representative appointed by the Speaker of the
19 House of Representatives.
20 (4) A representative appointed by the Majority Leader of
21 the House of Representatives.
22 (5) A representative appointed by the Minority Leader of
23 the House of Representatives.
24 (6) The Secretary of Health.
25 (7) The Insurance Commissioner.
26 (8) The Director of the Office of Health Care Reform;
27 and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the appointee of the Speaker of the House of
29 Representatives set a date, time and place for the initial
30 organizational meeting of the task force, which shall take place
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1 within 30 days of adoption of this resolution; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the chairman of the task force be selected
3 from among its membership at the organizational meeting; and be
4 it further
5 RESOLVED, That the task force hold meetings at the call of
6 the chairman or a majority of the members serving thereon; and
7 be it further
8 RESOLVED, That the task force hold public hearings on the
9 matters to be considered by the task force; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of
11 Representatives be authorized to pay for all necessary,
12 appropriate and proper expenses incurred by the task force; and
13 be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings and
15 recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than
16 June 30, 2004.
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