North Alabama Medical Center Recognized for Zero CAUTI Rate

North Alabama Medical Center (NAMC) has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review for achieving a zero infection rate for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a rare distinction based on federal healthcare data.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), only eight hospitals in Alabama recorded zero CAUTI cases during the most recent reporting period. Nationwide, just 514 hospitals out of more than 6,000 achieved the same result.

The data, collected between July 2023 and June 2024 and updated on April 30, comes from the Healthcare Associated Infections-Hospital database. This database uses infection tracking measures developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network.

CAUTI rates are among several metrics used to monitor infection control practices in acute care hospitals. These metrics apply to patients of all ages, including those in adult, pediatric, and neonatal units, as well as Medicare and non-Medicare patients. The CDC calculates a standardized infection ratio that accounts for various factors such as hospital size, patient health status, and whether the facility is affiliated with a medical school.

NAMC’s recognition places it among the top-performing hospitals for infection prevention nationwide. It is one of 10 facilities under Lifepoint Health—a system of 63 community hospitals—to receive the honor.