Here are 49 states and District of Columbia listed by their progress in reducing surgical site infections from colon surgeries based on data from October 2014 through September 2015.
Maryland is not included here because data were suppressed by CMS for one or more quarters, according to Hospital Compare.
The SSI rates are listed on CMS' Hospital Compare database and are shown in the form of standardized infection ratios, or observed to inspected infection rates.
SIRs of less than one indicate the state had fewer colon surgery SSIs than would be practiced. Below, the states are listed from smallest to largest SIR, or form the states showing the most progress in reducing colon surgery SSIs to states showing the least progress.
Note: States' SIRs show their individual progress in reducing SSIs from colon surgeries and are not meant to compare actual SSI rates among states.
District of Columbia — 0.632
Mississippi — 0.664
Wyoming — 0.741
Oregon — 0.786
Montana — 0.808
North Carolina — 0.823
New Hampshire — 0.828
New Jersey — 0.828
Tennessee — 0.828
Missouri — 0.863
Alabama — 0.876
Arkansas — 0.884
Louisiana — 0.887
Colorado — 0.89
Illinois — 0.911
Ohio — 0.919
Texas — 0.92
Florida — 0.924
Wisconsin — 0.967
Oklahoma — 0.976
South Carolina — 0.997
Hawaii — 1.014
Pennsylvania — 1.015
Georgia — 1.038
North Dakota — 1.051
Michigan — 1.059
Massachusetts — 1.064
Virginia — 1.076
Kentucky — 1.094
Indiana — 1.102
Rhode Island — 1.102
Idaho — 1.111
Utah — 1.113
Iowa — 1.148
California — 1.153
Washington — 1.166
Minnesota — 1.177
Nebraska — 1.182
Arizona — 1.235
Connecticut — 1.258
Nevada — 1.289
Maine — 1.316
New York — 1.337
West Virginia — 1.386
Delaware — 1.433
Kansas — 1.445
New Mexico — 1.476
South Dakota — 1.522
Arkansas — 1.829
Vermont — 2.121