Hospital-acquired conditions fall 21% over five years

Hospital-acquired conditions declined by 21% (3.1 million) between 2010 and 2015, saving an estimated 125,000 lives and $28 billion in health care costs, according to results reported today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Central line-associated bloodstream infections fell by 91%; post-operative venous thromboembolisms fell by 76%; catheter-associated urinary tract infections fell by 33%; adverse drug events fell by 29%; and ventilator-associated pneumonias fell by 24%, among other reductions. The findings are based on the AHRQ National Scorecard, which provides summary data on the national HAC rate for measurement activities associated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Partnership for Patients initiative. “Hospitals and health systems, along with their frontline clinicians, can take great pride in this progress," said Jay Bhatt, D.O., AHA Chief Medical Officer and president of AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust. "Not only have they saved lives, but they’ve also developed tremendous capacity to tackle safety challenges – a foundation that will help them get to zero incidents. Despite this great progress, the HAC payment penalty program will continue to penalize a quarter of hospitals, so needs to be further reconsidered."