Patient safety efforts save 87,000 lives and nearly $20 billion in costs
Patient Safety Monitor Insider
December 2, 2015
Hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) have decreased by 17 percent over a four-year period, according to a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday.
Between 2010 and 2014, it’s estimated that fewer than 87,000 patients died in hospitals and nearly $20 billion in healthcare costs were saved. These strides in patient safety are a result of provisions of the Affordable Healthcare Act requiring payment incentives for hospitals to reduce adverse events and improve quality of care.
“Patients in America’s hospitals are safer today as a result of this partnership with hospitals and health care providers,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a statement. “The Affordable Healthcare Act has given us tools to build a better healthcare system that protects patients, improves quality, and makes the most of our healthcare dollars.”
Hospital-acquired conditions include adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line associated bloodstream infections, as well as others.
