A physician challenges the number of healthcare-acquired infections reported for orthopedic surgery.

When a physician challenges the reported number of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), the most effective way to demonstrate data validity is to provide transparency into the methodology used to identify and classify infections. NAHQ CPHQ study materials emphasize that standardized criteria, such as those from the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), are used to define HAIs. Sharing the criteria used to classify infections (B) addresses concerns about accuracy and consistency. Options A, C, and D do not directly validate the infection counts.

NAHQ CPHQ Study Guide, Patient Safety Section, “Healthcare-Acquired Infections and Data Validation”; NAHQ CPHQ Practice Exam, Patient Safety Metrics and Reporting.