Appendix A.

Sample Interview Questions for Infection Preventionists

Question
Could you give a brief overview of the surveillance activities that take place in your hospital around HAIs?
Medicare has a new policy to stop paying for care associated with certain HAIs. What is your opinion of this policy? Sample Probes: Gauging what the CMS policy is adding that is new or different; assessing awareness levels among physicians, nursing staff, and administration about new CMS policy
Can you describe aspects of your hospital that you have felt over time are worthy of noting or unique with respect to prevention of HAIs? Sample Probes: extent of guideline/best practice adherence in hospital; preventionist knowledge of adherence across hospital units
Describe the different ways you know about how your hospital is responding or may respond to the new CMS policy? Sample Probes: gauging the extent of interactions between Infection Control and Quality Improvement departments in hospital; assessing organizational factors that impact success/failure of CMS policy
Do you have any worries or concerns about how the new CMS policy might play out within your hospital? Sample Probes: identifying other approaches to HAI prevention and control facilitated or undermined by the new CMS policy; assessing the impact of the CMS policy on guideline or best practice adherence
Do you believe that the new CMS policy has, through the organizational interventions it has spurred (or is spurring) affected (or will affect) infection-related outcomes in any way?