24-29-3: Advisory committee created; members; duties.

A. The "hospital-acquired infection advisory committee" is created in the department to conduct surveillance of hospital-acquired infections. Members of the advisory committee shall include:

(1) a consumer of health care services;

(2) a representative of the New Mexico association for professionals in infection control and epidemiology;

(3) a representative of the New Mexico hospital association;

(4) a representative of the New Mexico medical review association;

(5) a local representative of the society for healthcare epidemiology of America; and

(6) the department's infectious disease epidemiology bureau.

B. The advisory committee shall:

(1) establish objectives, definitions, criteria and standards for the reporting of hospital-acquired infections;

(2) work with hospitals to identify and recruit volunteer participating hospitals in surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and other indicators;

(3) develop objectives and action plans for instituting a statewide program of surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and other indicators;

(4) identify the specific infections and indicators that are to be subject to surveillance and reporting;

(5) identify, and make recommendations regarding, training in the use of the surveillance system or in the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and infectious disease;

(6) develop and disseminate to the public appropriate reports of the findings of surveillance; and

(7) consult as necessary with technical advisors who have regional or national expertise in the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and infectious disease.