Advertisement	December 24, 2014 Significant Decline in ADEs Bolsters Safety in Hospitals; 50,000 Deaths Averted Washington, D.C.—An estimated 50,000 fewer patients died in U.S. hospitals and about $12 billion in healthcare costs was saved due to the reduction in hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2013, according to a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Interestingly, about 40% of the reduction was from the decline in adverse drug events (ADE), which was by far the most significant improvement. The next contributors were 20% for pressure ulcers and 14% from catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The report credits provisions of the Affordable Care Act such as Medicare payment incentives to improve the quality of care and the HHS Partnership for Patients initiative. It also notes, however, “This progress toward a safer health care system occurred during a period of concerted attention by hospitals throughout the country to reduce adverse events.” In addition to ADEs, pressure ulcers and CAUTI, hospital-acquired conditions include, central line–associated bloodstream infections, pressure ulcers, and surgical-site infections, among others. Hospital patients experienced 1.3 million fewer of them from 2010 to 2013, a 17% decline in a 3-year period, according to preliminary estimates. “Today’s results are welcome news for patients and their families,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “These data represent significant progress in improving the quality of care that patients receive while spending our health care dollars more wisely.  HHS will work with partners across the country to continue to build on this progress.” ADEs are associated with an excess mortality of 20 deaths per 1,000 and excess costs of $5,000/case in 2011, according to the report, so the more than 11,000 deaths averted mean substantial cost savings. Overall with hospital-acquired conditions, the most significant gains occurred in 2012 and 2013. For example, in 2013 alone, nearly 35,000 fewer patients died in hospitals, and approximately 800,000 fewer incidents of harm occurred, saving approximately $8 billion. HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) compared the incidence of a number of avoidable hospital-acquired conditions to 2010 rates and used as the baseline estimates of deaths and excess healthcare costs developed when the Partnership for Patients was launched. “Never before have we been able to bring so many hospitals, clinicians and experts together to share in a common goal – improving patient care,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “We have built an ‘infrastructure of improvement’ that will aid hospitals and the health care field for years to come and has spurred the results you see today. We applaud HHS for having the vision to support these efforts and look forward to our continued partnership to keep patients safe and healthy.” Click here for December 24, 2014 USP Weekly News Update.
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