Which component of infection surveillance focuses on improvement opportunities?

The focus on improvement opportunities within infection surveillance is best encapsulated by the concept of outcome measures. Outcome measures evaluate the end results of care, specifically the incidence of healthcare-associated infections among residents. By analyzing infection rates and their correlations with various operational practices, nursing homes can identify trends and areas needing improvement.

Improving resident care often involves examining outcomes to determine if interventions are effective or if there are persistent problems that require new strategies. Outcome measures provide a concrete basis for analysis, enabling facilities to implement changes aiming for reductions in infection rates, thereby enhancing overall resident safety and quality of care.

In contrast, process measures assess the steps taken to deliver care or implement infection control practices, but they do not directly reflect the effectiveness of those measures in preventing infections. Risk assessments evaluate the potential for infection based on various factors but do not focus specifically on opportunities for improvement in existing practices. Data reporting, while crucial for tracking and sharing information, serves more as an administrative task rather than aiming directly at identifying improvement opportunities.