Statistical Interpretation: This interpretation takes into account whether the difference between the facility and the national experience is significantly different. If it is not statistically significant, then the facility is considered to have about the same experience as that of the nation.
  1. Significantly fewer infections observed than predicted, based on the 2006 - 2008 national baseline(green down pointing arrow) Significantly fewer infections observed than predicted, based on the national baseline: this means that the facility has a lower rate of infection than the average health care facility and therefore doing better than the average health care facility in the nation.
  2. No significant difference between the number of observed and predicted infections, based on the 2006 - 2008 national baseline(gray circle) No significant difference between the numbers of observed and predicted infections, based on the national baseline: this means that the facility has about the same rate of infection than the average health care facility.
  3. Significantly more infections observed than predicted, based on the 2006 - 2008 national baseline(red upward pointing arrow) Significantly more infections observed than predicted, based on the national baseline: this means that the facility has a higher rate of infection than the average health care facility and therefore is doing worse than the average health care facility in the nation.
  4. The SIR is not calculated when the number of predicted infections is less than 1 (white box) The SIR is not calculated when the number of predicted infections is less than 1: Data were reported, but not enough to compare to the national baseline and be able to reliably determine whether they are doing better, worse or the same as the nation.

    For more information about the data, go to Understanding the Data.