Provide names of other journalists involved.
Kris B. Mamula Anya Litvak
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Dec. 7, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Using state health department data, we we able to track the progress local hospitals had made in preventing hospital-acquired infections. Although statewide rate was down, the rates were up significantly at some local hospitals.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Publicly available Pennsylvania Department of Health data; not FOI needed; data showed that hospital-acquired infection rates were up significantly at some local hospitals while overall rates statewide declined.
Explain types of human sources used.
Interviews with numerous hospital administrators, doctors and infection control specialists.
Results:
The results were the first ever look at the progress hospitals were making in eliminating hospital-acquired infections.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Sometimes the most telling information is easily available through public sources, which are sometimes overlooked.