On May 9, the New York State Department of Health announced that seven non-profit health organizations—including GNYHA via its affiliate the GNYHA Foundation, and several GNYHA members—will share in more than $1.2 million in funding for demonstration projects that focus on preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset), University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Westchester County Healthcare Corporation, and HANYS also received funding for demonstration projects. 
     
In particular, GNYHA received $174,860 to coordinate the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive, evidence-based practices to prevent and control Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections. C. diff is a multi-drug resistant, toxin-producing bacterium responsible for most cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. GNYHA’s 30-hospital joint collaborative with the United Hospital Fund is one of the first in the nation to specifically target C. diff.