The Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) at www.ihatoday.org through the Institute for Innovations in Care and Quality’s report “Improving Quality Care in Illinois Hospitals” is based on quality achievements at 200 hospitals and health systems across the state. Overall results show reductions in seven key categories resulting in 843 instances where patient harm was avoided for a cost savings of more than $18 million.
According to the report, Illinois hospitals reduced patient harm in CLABSI, pressure ulcers, ventilator-associated pneumonia, obstetrical adverse events/early elective deliveries, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, patient falls, and venous thromboembolism.
Over the past three years, 95 percent of IHA member hospitals and health systems have participated in the Institute for Innovations in Care and Quality activities in several programs such as:
- The Hospital Engagement Network is part of the CMS Partnership for Patient campaign in conjunction with the AHA Health Research and Education Trust to reduce patient harm by 40 percent and readmissions by 20 percent in 2013
- Preventing Readmission through Effective Partnerships a partnership between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, where IHA received the 2013 URAC Bonze Award in the Health Plan Best Practices category
- IHA’s Readmissions Activity Profile is a data resource with hospital specific and aggregate reports on readmissions for all payers
- The Midwest Alliance for Patient Safety is a joint initiative of a statewide patient safety organization with IHA and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council
In another part of the country, the Texas Hospital Association at www.tha.org reports that in 2012, Texas hospitals outperformed hospitals nationally in reducing Surgical Site Infections (SSI) and CLABSIs. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, in both SSIs and CLABSIs, the infection ratio was significantly lower than reported on 2006-2008 baseline data and lower than the national average.
Nearly 200 Texas hospitals are working through the CMS Partnership for Patients to reduce ten hospital acquired conditions and readmissions. Results from the Texas Center for Quality & Patient Safety (TCQPS) show that 74 of these hospitals show reductions in HAIs and readmissions.
TCQPS is working with eleven hospitals to reduce SSIs and CLABSIs. The initiative has achieved a 58 percent reduction in the number of units both ICUs and non-ICUs reporting CLABSI infections. Most facilities have maintained a zero rate of surgical site infection for coronary artery bypass grafts since June 2012.
In addition, 65 hospitals are working with TCQPS and the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care to implement strategies to more effectively engage patients and families to reduce harm, improve care experiences, and enable the transition from hospital to home to be safe. Also through the TCQPS TeamSTEPPS Initiative, thirty three hospitals have helped their staff learn how to improve communication and teamwork skills to improve patient safety.