Low-cost changes, such as hand hygiene, patient oral care, and improved central-line catheter use, could save thousands of lives and up to $12 million a year for one hospital unit, according to a study published in Health Affairs this month.
Researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill looked at patients at Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at North Carolina Children's Hospital, one of the five University of North Carolina hospitals. With the goal of reducing hospital-acquired infections, the researchers tested three low-cost interventions, including hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and running water, using alcohol and using gloves), patient oral hygiene to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (teeth brushing, mouth washing), and compliance with central-line catheter use (antiseptics and antibiotics use), according to a press release.
On average, patients spent 2.3 fewer days in the hospital, and their hospitalization cost $12,136 less when the changes were implemented, according to the study. The savings could be significant, especially because the costs are so low for the improvements. For example, oral care kits cost $21, and chlorhexidine antiseptic patches cost 60 cents per day. Study authors projected the total savings each year would amount to $12 million for the hospital unit alone.
"Used on a larger scale, these quality improvements could save lives and reduce costs for patients, hospitals, and payers around the country, provided that sustained efforts ensure compliance with new protocols and achieve long-lasting changes," the study authors wrote.
For more information:
- read the press release
- here's the study abstract
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