100,000 Lives Campaign: Hospitals Challenged to Prevent Unnecessary Deaths
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, initiated a campaign in December, 2004, aimed at improving the standard of care in U.S. hospitals. The stated goal was to prevent 100,000 unnecessary deaths by dramatically improving patient care. Over 3,000 hospitals are taking part in the 18-month effort and are institutionalizing new standards of care designed to save lives and improve future health outcomes. A partial listing of the improvements includes: decrease in cases of Venilator-Associated Pneumonia, institution of rapid reponse teams, establishment of "mentor hospitals," and cooperation among health care associations.
According to the first IHI follow up report on June 14, 2006, that goal was far surpassed, according to Dr. Donald Berwick, President and CEO of IHI, in his announcement at the Second Annual International Summit on Redesigning Hospital Care. In his statement, Dr. Berwick said, "The participating hospitals have not only prevented an estimated 122,300 unnecessary deaths, but they've also proven that it's possible for the health care community to come together voluntarily to rapidly make significant changes in patient care."
As noted in an editorial in the New York Times on July 5, 2006, the claim by IHI of its remarkable success rate is being cautioned by some analysts. An independent scrutinty is recommended to determine whether the decrease in mortality rates is caused by this campaign or would have occurred anyway. The editorial goes on to say that the campaign deserves credit for its goal and agressiveness to cut down on errors and needless deaths.
"Hospitals that participated in the 100,000 Lives campaign committed to implementing some or all of the following six quality improvement changes:
* Activate a Rapid Response Team at the first sign that a patient's condition is worsening and may lead to a more serious medical emergency. (1,781 hospitals participating)
* Prevent patients from dying of heart attacks by delivering evidence-based care, such as appropriate administration of aspirin and beta-blockers to prevent further heart muscle damage. (2,288 hospitals participating)
* Prevent medication errors by ensuring that accurate and continually updated lists of patients' medications are reviewed and reconciled during their hospital stay, particularly at transition points. (2,185 hospitals participating)
* Prevent patients who are receiving medicines and fluids through central lines from developing infections by following five steps, including proper hand washing and cleaning the patient's skin with "chlorhexidine" (a type of antiseptic). (1,925 hospitals participating)
* Prevent patients undergoing surgery from developing infections by following a series of steps, including timely administration of antibiotics. (2,133 hospitals participating)
* Prevent patients on ventilators from developing pneumonia by following four steps, including raising the head of the patient's bed between 30 and 45 degrees. (1,982 hospitals participating)"