Putnam General Hospital was pleased to welcome members from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection surveillance and prevention group, based out of Atlanta.  The group, lead by Dr. Daniel Pollock, has begun extensive research on hospital infection reporting due to the legislative activity revolving around healthcare. 

The CDC currently works with the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).  Within NHSN there are in excess of 400 facilities with 25 beds or less yet there is no Critical Access Hospital designation when it comes to reporting hospital infections.  Due to the surge of Critical Access Hospital’s the CDC reached out to the Georgia State Office of Rural Health for guidance on a hospital site to visit to help better inform the CDC of the needs in rural communities and a hospital that also was at the forefront of infection control. 

Putnam General is recognized as leader in Georgia’s health care delivery system.  The CDC chose Putnam due to the Infection Control System in place at the hospital. 

“The CDC was very impressed with the hospital staff and the physical facilities.  The commitment to excellence came through in every conversation and in every hospital area we visited,” said Dr. Daniel Pollock, surveillance branch chief of the CDC.  “We chose Putnam General Hospital to learn more about healthcare-associated infections and their prevention and control in critical access hospitals.  The CDC visitors came away with a much clearer understanding of the challenges that critical access hospitals face and the exemplary commitment of Putnam General Hospital to addressing those challenges.”

The visit consisted of an extensive tour of the facility and services offered at Putnam General, as well as a presentation on infection control and reporting within the hospital and state followed by a question and answer session.  The visit was focused on understanding what differentiates Critical Access Hospitals from large hospitals and how the CDC can collaborate with the smaller hospitals to meet the needs for infection surveillance and prevention and to improve patient care practices. 

For more information on the services and facility of Putnam General Hospital or information on the CDC visit, please contact Candice Mauldin at 706-923-2028.