Million Lives Campaign
Participating hospitals may adopt up to 12 improvements in care, intended to save lives and reduce patient injuries. The six new initiatives undertaken
by BMH are:
- Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections
- Reduction of harm from high-alert medications, such as anticoagulants, sedatives, narcotics, and insulin.
- Prevention of pressure ulcers
- Delivering reliable, evidence-based care for congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Increased emphasis on quality and patient safety initiatives among hospital Boards of Directors
For all six initiatives, BMH and BCH have adopted a target of zero instances of infections, ulcers and medication harm, and 90 percent compliance with the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) bundle and 90 percent evidence-based support in reduction of CHF readmissions. In addition, 25 percent of all BMH and BMH Board agendas are dedicated to quality and safety. |
|
New Campaign extends
reach of previous 100K
Ball Memorial Hospital and Blackford Community Hospital have joined the nationwide 5 Million Lives Campaign, an Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) initiative aimed at dramatically reducing instances of medical harm in U.S. hospitals. The campaign’s goal is to reduce harm to 5 million lives nationwide over a 24-month period, ending Dec. 9, 2008.
The 5 Million Lives Campaign is the second phase of the efforts of the 100,000 Lives Campaign, an 18-month initiative that reduced inpatient deaths by an estimated 122,000 at more than 3,100 participating hospitals, including Ball Memorial Hospital.
“5 Million Lives is protecting five million people from harm, as opposed to the 100,000 Lives Campaign, which aimed at reducing mortalities,” said Claire Lee, administrative director, Quality Management. “This is building on the work of the previous campaign.”
BMH and BCH participated in the 100,000 Lives Campaign from January 2005 to June 2006 and endorsed the following best care practices: promotion of evidence-based care, avoidance of central-line infections, management of Acute Myocardial Infarction patients, prevention of surgical site infections, patient medication reconciliation, and availability of rapid response teams. All six of those endorsements, plus an additional six relating to prevention of healthcare acquired staph infections, pressure ulcers, reduction of harm from high-alert medications, institution of evidence-based care to prevent readmission for congestive heart failure, and renewed Board of Director concentration on quality and safety, make up the emphasis of 5 Million Lives.
“We are actively pursuing perfection in all 12 of the initiatives,” Lee said. “We have a history of having implemented best practices for the newly adopted six points of emphasis. Our focus is to build on what is in place and take it to the next level.”
IHI has estimated instances of medical harm in hospitals nationwide number more than 15 million annually. “Medical harm” is defined as unintended physical injury, as a result of medical treatment or absence of indicated medical treatment, causing additional monitoring, treatment or hospitalization, or resulting in the patient’s death.
“Medical harm is that which occurs to a patient unavoidably at times, unintentionally, or as a side affect of treatment,” Lee said. “The key point is it is not confined to errors.”
“It’s very exciting to be part of any movement that improves the care that we provide and reduces our patients’ exposure to harm. It’s very rewarding to be a part of this endeavor.”
Back to CHS News
|
