IRVING, TX — A new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study reflects a 9 percent decrease in patient harm nationally in 2011 and 2012, and an 8 percent decrease in 30-day readmissions.

The DFW Hospital Engagement Network (DFW HEN), operating under the umbrella of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation (DFWHC Foundation), was awarded $2.1 million by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2011 to provide regional education, training and measurement of improvement of healthcare acquired conditions and readmissions for hospitals. The award was part of the National Partnership for Patients Campaign, a project created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help hospitals and health care providers improve care. Funding of $500 million, made available by the Affordable Care Act, was distributed nationally by CMS’s Innovation Center through solicitation and other procurements for federal contracts.

Since the Hospital Engagement Networks began nationally, reductions in adverse drug events, falls, infections and other forms of hospital-induced harm are estimated to have prevented nearly 15,000 hospital deaths, 560,000 patient injuries and approximately $4 billion in health spending. HHS attributes these improvements to a number of public-private partnerships including the federal Partnership for Patients initiative and the Hospital Engagement Networks.

“These numbers are an indication the collaborative public and private partnerships are working,” said Kristin Jenkins, president of the DFWHC Foundation. “Teaming with the health care providers, we were able to identify and spread best practices and solutions to reduce hospital acquired conditions and readmissions.”

Since 2012, CMS has funded the Joint Commission Resources HEN to develop and provide education, coaching and project infrastructure to as many as 522 hospitals nationwide. To view the full report, visit the HHS website at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2014pres/05/20140507a.html. For more information including success stories, best practices and project videos, please contact Deborah Morris Nadzam at dnadzam@jcrinc.com.

The DFWHC Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to continually improve the community’s health by promoting safe, high quality, cost effective, accessible and equitable healthcare and by strengthening the healthcare workforce through education and research.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2014

CONTACT:
Chris Wilson
chrisw@dfwhc.org
(972) 717-4279