Iowa Patient Safety Initiative Reduces Errors, Saves $51M

The 127 hospitals participating in the Iowa-based Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) prevented potential harm to more than 4,300 patients in 2013 and reduced health care costs by more than $51 million, according to data released Tuesday by the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC), which administers the network.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center is a participant in the initiative and contributed to the improved safety performance for the state. The data in the report covered 2012 and 2013. During this time, GRMC had no early elective obstetric deliveries; no central line infections; and no catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The readmission rate (for all causes 30-day readmissions) decreased 1.48 percent, from 8.25 percent in 2012 to 6.77 percent in 2013. The patient fall rate also dropped significantly at GRMC. In 2012, the rate was 5.33 percent and was reduced to 1.1 percent in 2013.

“GRMC began implementing best practice measures several years ago that addressed these safety concerns associated with hospitalization. We continually look for improvements that can be made to our processes and safety protocols that will make a difference in the lives of our patients,” says Janet Lacey, GRMC director of quality. “In the past few years, GRMC has been recognized nationally for high quality and safety scores. We earned these working as a committed team of clinical and support staff who are not afraid to implement changes in the best interest of our patients. Even though we are demonstrating progress here at GRMC, these scores are not yet acceptable. It is our mission to continually strive to provide the best and safest patient experience possible.”

The announcement by the IHC provided state-wide aggregate data on the measures. Among other improvements, participating hospitals reduced early elective baby deliveries (which can increase complications) by 90 percent; catheter associated urinary tract infections by 44 percent; adverse drug events by 28 percent; central line-associated blood stream infections in intensive care by 24 percent; surgical site infections by 24 percent; patient falls by 23 percent; and avoidable readmissions by 11 percent.

This work has taken place as part of the federal Partnership for Patients initiative, with the goals of reducing harm by 40 percent and hospital readmissions by 20 percent. The program has helped the hospitals develop the infrastructure, expertise, and organizational culture that will support further improvements for years to come. 

In addition to reducing costs, the Iowa HEN reduced the time that patients spent in the participating hospitals by 17,758 days. It’s estimated that at least 32 lives were saved because of the HEN.

“Through the HEN program, Iowa hospitals and their 71,000 employees are ensuring that patients are safer when they are in the hospital and less likely to return to the hospital, all of which reduces the cost of care,” explained Tom Evans, MD, IHC CEO.  “In many ways, Iowa was already a leader in these measurements, but our hospitals have taken up the challenge to do even better – and they are succeeding.”

“Iowa physicians and hospitals are committed to raising the quality and safety bar in all parts of the state,” said IHC Board Chair Jeff Maire, DO, of Mercy Surgical Affiliates in Des Moines. “Through that commitment we are increasing value and bending the cost curve for all healthcare consumers.”

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About IHC:  The Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) is a provider-led and patient-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare. Proactively created by the Iowa Hospital Association and Iowa Medical Society in 2004, IHC's mission is exceptional healthcare in Iowa.  IHC plays a unique role in putting healthcare providers (doctors, nurses and hospital executives) in a leadership position to drive clinical improvements and accelerate change.  By encouraging communication, collaboration and transparency, IHC ultimately raises the quality, patient safety and value of healthcare in Iowa.

About the Partnership for Patients Hospital Engagement Network:  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the national Partnership for Patients initiative to make health care safer and less costly by targeting and reducing the millions of preventable injuries and complications from health care acquired conditions. The Partnership for Patients set two crisp aims: reduce hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and reduce preventable hospital readmissions by 20 percent by 2014.  Iowa’s hospitals rallied behind this call to action, with 100 percent of hospitals pledging their commitment to the partnership.

Shortly after the launch of the campaign, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center launched a nationwide public-private collaboration termed the Hospital Engagement Networks (HEN) to identify and create innovative solutions designed to reduce patient harm and improve care coordination. CMS awarded 27 organizations a contract to help identify the key innovations and spread improvement across their defined population. Nearly 4,000 hospitals across the country are currently in a HEN, with the goal to have the over 5,000 US hospitals committed. The Iowa Healthcare Collaborative was awarded the sole Iowa-based contract to serve Iowa hospitals and patients in this campaign.