Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/447830
6 Patient Safety S everal facets of health IT have a positive impact on patient outcomes, like auto- mated reminders that improve medica- tion adherence. But other technologies could actually have an adverse effect on patient safety. The ECRI Institute detailed the top 10 health technology hazards for 2015 in its new report, created to help hospitals recognize and prioritize patient safety issues. They are listed below. 1. Inadequate alarm configuration policies, practices 2. Incorrect, missing data in EHRs 3. Mixed-up IV lines leading to drug, solution misadministration 4. Inadequate reprocessing of endoscopes, surgical instruments 5. Miss-set or missed alarms leading to un- caught ventilator disconnections 6. Patient-handling device use errors, failures 7. Unnoticed variations in diagnostic radia- tion exposures 8. Robotic surgery complications from insuf- ficient training 9. Insufficient medical device, system protec- tions 10. Overwhelmed recall, safety-alert manage- ment programs The full report includes recommendations from the ECRI Institute for how hospitals can mitigate these issues. n I n 2010, the healthcare community was tasked with improving quality measures through a series of initiatives, including Medicare payment in- centives and HHS' Partnership for Patients. Preliminary data from HHS demonstrates that such initiatives have proved successful so far. The interim update report on 2013 annual healthcare-associated infection rates and cost savings estimates indicates a 17 percent drop in healthcare- acquired conditions from 2010 to 2013, which equals approximately 1.3 million fewer infections. Such a decline also translates to approximately 50,000 fewer patient deaths in hospitals and a $12 billion reduction in healthcare costs. The report indicates the most significant gains were made from 2012 to 2013 alone. The preliminary data shows in 2013, there were approximately 35,000 fewer patient deaths in hospitals, 800,000 fewer incidents of harm and cost savings of nearly $8 billion. Over the past three years, central line-associated bloodstream infections experienced the largest measured decline, falling 49 percent, followed by catheter-associated urinary tract infections (28 percent), pressure ulcers (20 percent), adverse drug events (19 percent) and surgical site infections (19 percent). "Although the precise causes of the decline in patient harm are not fully un- derstood, the increase in safety has occurred during a period of concerted attention by hospitals throughout the country to reduce adverse events, spurred in part by Medicare payment incentives and catalyzed by the HHS Partnership for Patients initiative led by CMS," the report reads. n I nstances of 10 healthcare-acquired condi- tions in the U.S. from 2010 to 2013 dropped 17 percent, but the nation made greater strides in reducing some patient harm events than others. The following five HACs had the largest percent reduction from 2010 to 2013, according to pre- liminary data from HHS: • Central line-associated bloodstream infections: 49 percent reduction • Catheter-associated urinary tract infections: 28 percent • Pressure ulcers: 20 percent • Adverse drug events: 19 percent • Surgical site infections: 19 percent The nation did not do as well at reducing venti- lator-associated pneumonia, as instances of VAP dropped just 3 percent from 2010 to 2013. n ECRI Institute: Top 10 Technology Patient Safety Hazards By Heather Punke Patient Harms Fall 17% Since 2010: Are Federal Incentives Working? By Akanksha Jayanthi The 5 Most-Reduced Patient Harm Events By Heather Punke