The Latest: All ten prevention projects for health care-associated conditions (readmissions, pressure ulcer, patient falls, obstetrical adverse events, wrong-site surgery, venous thromboembolism, adverse drug events, central line-associated bloodstream infection, surgical site infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia) have been launched and hospitals are actively engaged—137 Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems have committed to participating with the Pennsylvania Hospital Engagement Network (PA-HEN); and 54 percent of the hospitals are participating in three or more projects.
Member Action:Hospitals are encouraged to share their success stories with reducing harm and preventable readmissions, as well as strategies for patient and family engagement.
Background: Through the Partnership for Patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted with 26 state and national organizations (including HAP) to create hospital engagement networks to promote the use of strategies that foster a culture of safety and offer opportunities for hospitals to participate in projects to reduce adverse events, as well as prevent complications and readmissions. Under the two-year contract, HAP and its subcontractors, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority,The Health Care Improvement Foundation,Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Health Care Quality Alliance, will assist Pennsylvania hospitals with achieving the national Partnership for Patients’ overarching goals of a 40 percent reduction in preventable harm and a 20 percent reduction in preventable readmissions.
Hospital clinical, quality, and patient safety staff with questions about the PA-HEN should contact Lynda Martin, HAP’s project director.
