Evidence-based treatments have improved care quality, Joint Commission says

Hospitals are striving for--and hitting--many outcome improvements, the Joint Commission reports. National improvement on 12 outcomes, reflecting best evidence-based treatments for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia, rose between 4.9 percent and 58.8 percent between 2002 to 2008, according to Improving America's Hospitals: The Joint Commission's Report on Quality and Safety 2009.

"In addition to saving lives and improving health, improved quality reduces healthcare costs by eliminating preventable complications," said Mark Chassin, the accreditor's president. Hospital improvements included:

• Overall heart failure care results improving so that evidence-based treatments were given 91.6 percent of the time, up from 59.7 percent in 2002.
• Evidence-based treatments being given 92.9 percent of the time in pneumonia cases in 2008, up from 72.3 percent in 2002.

The report presents scientific evidence of improvement and how it relates to common medical conditions and procedures. The Joint Commission measures 31 outcomes, including several for children's care. More than 3,000 Joint Commission-accredited hospitals contributed data.

To learn more:
- check out this press release