HHS Reports Quality Improvements Saved 15,000 Lives
Fayeteville, GA (PRWEB) May 18, 2014 -- According to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, quality improvements decreased hospital-acquired infections, adverse drug events, falls, infections and other forms of hospital-induced harm in 2011 and 2012. This translates to the prevention of 15,000 deaths in hospitals and approximately $4 billion in healthcare spending.
HHS credits public-private partnerships such as the Partnership for Patients Initiative and Hospital Engagement Networks with establishing best practices that make a major contribution to patient safety.
In 2011, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded a contract to the NC Quality Center and Virginia Hospital Association to form a Hospital Engagement Network focused on reducing OB harm. Synensis was subcontracted to create, train, coach and manage an improvement program to prevent medical errors in the 40 hospitals in the network.
Synensis partnered with hospital leaders to deliver an evidence-based simulation curricula for perinatal teams that focused on patient safety. This training encompassed TeamSTEPPS® – Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, and StoryCare®, a program developed by Synensis that uses teaching stories as simulations that empower teams to produce measurable results.
This collaboration has reduced overall preventable harm in obstetrics cases by 15.8%. It has also significantly reduced elective early-term delivery between 37-39 weeks without a medical or obstetrical indication.
“We know from our work with the North Carolina-Virginia Hospital Engagement Network that partnerships focused on patient safety make a measurable difference. They save lives and prevent harm from infections, falls, injuries and medication errors. As a secondary gain, they also save money for patients, hospitals and our overall healthcare system. The most recent HHS data is a great vindication of the value of collaborative efforts between hospitals, government, patients, providers and private partners,” said Stephen Powell, Synensis President and CEO.
About Synensis:
Synensis was formed to create healthier organizations, improve the quality of healthcare around the world, and help save thousands of lives each year. We provide the tools, knowledge, coaching and training to make every member of the healthcare team more effective. Together we transform healthcare systems to become safer places for patients and more satisfying workplaces for those who care for them.
For more HHS data:
To view the most recent HHS quality improvement data:
http://innovations.cms.gov/Files/reports/patient-safety-results.pdf
To view HHS press releases and fact sheets:
http://www.hhs.gov/news
Connie Hicks, Synensis, LLC, http://www.synensishealth.com, +1 6783696317 Ext: 123, [email protected]
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