MedPage Today December 2, 2014
WASHINGTON — The rate of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs), including central line-associated bloodstream infections, bedsores, and falls — fell 17% during 2010-2013, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The reduction resulted in 1.3 million fewer harms to hospitalized patients as well as an estimated 50,000 fewer deaths and $12 billion in savings, HHS said in a report released Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The 17% reduction … indicates that hospitals have made very substantial progress in improving safety,” an HHS official said during a background conference call with reporters. “We can’t precisely determine causality but [the decrease] occurred during a concerted effort by hospitals to reduce adverse events. Financial incentives by payers, public reporting of results, and technical assistance offered...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor