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Ohio hospitals save $13 million by cutting infections
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 7, 2011
Twenty-five Ohio hospitals have collaborated to reduce hospital infections and drug mix-ups. The Solutions for Patient Safety initiative, launched by a coalition of business and hospital groups in January 2009, has saved an estimated $12.8 million in health care expenses, said a report the group issued in January (link).
Seventeen hospitals in central Ohio that participated in the project cut methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections by 42% and catheter-related bloodborne infections by 37%, avoiding an estimated 918 patient days in the hospital and preventing 14 deaths. Meanwhile, eight children's hospitals involved in the safety initiative cut surgical infections by 60% and adverse drug events by 35%, preventing more than 3,500 children from being harmed while in the hospital and saving $5.3 million in medical costs.
Hospitals achieved the changes by sharing successful data-collection techniques and best preventive medical practices with one another, the group's report said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/02/07/prbf0207.htm.
