UCSF Medical Center chief medical officer clarifies media reports on IV infections

Statement from Josh Adler, MD, chief medical officer, UCSF Medical Center:

“Our priority is our patients’ health, and we are committed to continually improving the way we deliver care. It is important to note that as a tertiary care referral facility, we treat an exceptionally high volume of immunocompromised patients who are more susceptible to infection.

The Consumer Reports rankings are based on 2008 data. In the past few years we have taken substantial measures, consistent with best practices in the industry, to improve our procedures for inserting, maintaining, and removing central lines. These steps included education, monitoring and weekly reviews, and we have achieved significant improvement. As a result, our current infection rate has been reduced by over 50 percent from 2008.”