Hospitals fall short on government's patient safety goal

Hospitals across the country failed to reach a central government safety goal, according to a report released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the CDC reported that most hospitals have reported fewer infections across the country, officials warned, "there is much more work to be done" to keep patients safe during their hospital stays. "More action is needed at every level of public health and health care to improve patient safety and eliminate infections that commonly threaten hospital patients," according to the report. Every day, 1 in 25 hospital patients contracts an infection — an alarming new statistic that the CDC said demands a stronger focus on patient safety nationwide.