Hospitals in Patient Safety First Collaborative Reduce Early Elective Deliveries by 65%
Anthem Blue CrossLeslie Porras(818) 234-3368
Elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks of gestation have plummeted from 10.4 percent to 3.6 percent from 2010 to 2011 at California hospitals participating in perinatal programming as part of , led by Anthem Blue Cross, National Health Foundation (NHF) and California's Regional Hospital Associations.
Patient Safety First (PSF) was launched in 2010 aimed at improving quality of care, reducing healthcare costs and ultimately saving lives by improving patient safety and eliminating non-medically indicated elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks of gestation in California. A total of 180 hospitals across the state participate in PSF, representing almost half of all hospitals in California.
“Data from the first two years of the program show that participating hospitals have exhibited tremendous progress in reducing the potential of patients being harmed as a result of -hospital acquired infections," said Gene Grigsby, president and CEO of National Health Foundation. “What is even more remarkable is the reduction of early term elective deliveries which occurred in one year since this initiative was introduced."
This is particularly important because babies delivered prior to 39 weeks of gestation have a higher rate of infant mortality and are more likely to have other medical issues, including lung problems, brain impairments and infections.
“The reduction of early term elective deliveries by nearly two thirds is an amazing result and a testimony to the potential of the Patient Safety First collaborative,” said Pam Kehaly, president of Anthem Blue Cross. “We hope to continue to expand this program so all Californians can receive safer medical care.”
Patient Safety First utilizes regional peer to peer learning networks to accelerate the adoption of patient safety practices and strategies for improvement. According to a recent report prepared by National Health Foundation at the close of year two of PSF, significant improvements have been seen in reduction of sepsis mortality, ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line blood stream infections (CLBSI) and the reduction of elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks gestational age:
Over 973 lives have been saved as a result of reducing sepsis mortality. In addition, an estimated $19 million in costs were avoided as a result of this statewide patient safety initiative, $3.75 million of which was a result of reducing early term elective deliveries. PSF is an example of how patient safety and quality of care can be improved in hospitals while reducing costs on a large scale.
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National Health Foundation (NHF) is an independent, tax exempt 501 (c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving and enhancing the healthcare of the underserved by developing and supporting innovative programs that 1) can become independently viable, 2) provide systematic solutions to gaps in healthcare access and delivery, and 3) have the potential to be replicated nationally. For more information please visit: .
The regional hospital associations are not-for-profit 501(c) (6) regional trade associations comprised of hospitals and health systems, related professional associations and associate members with a common interest in improving the operating environment for hospitals and improving the health status of the communities they serve. Combined, the three associations represent 95% of all hospitals in the state. Our mission is to serve the political, economic, informational and educational needs of hospitals in our regions, and improve the quality and accessibility of health care services and thereby improve the health status of communities. For more information please visit each regional association’s website: Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties, ; Hospital Association of Southern California, ; Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, .
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