Patient safety efforts save healthcare system $20B — 5 highlights

On Dec. 1, federal officials said nationwide patient safety efforts have prevented more then 2 million hospital-acquired conditions such as infections and pressure ulcers, according to GreenvilleOnline.

Here are five highlights:

1. This figure amounts to a 17 percent decline in adverse events, or 87,000 fewer lives lost.

2. The decline results in healthcare savings of nearly $20 billion between 2010 and 2014.

3. The most reductions occurred among adverse drug events, pressure ulcers and catheter-associated urinary tract infections — three of the four most frequent types of conditions.

4. The efforts also contributed to a substantial reduction in the number of potentially-deadly central-line associated blood stream infections.

5. In 2015, there were 800,000 fewer harmful events than in years past, according to Patrick Conway, MD, principal deputy administrator and chief medical officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

More articles on quality & infection control:
Nearly 30% of physicians are unaware of PrEP benefits, CDC estimates — 4 highlights
Hand hygiene startup Sterilogy receives $25k award
CMS seeking comments for new patient survey: 5 things to know

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