New HHS Data Shows Major Strides Made In Patient Safety, Leading To Improved Care & Savings

The data in this report released May 7, 2014, by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows a substantial nine percent decrease in harms experienced by patients in hospitals in 2012 compared to the 2010 baseline, and an eight percent decrease in Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) 30-day readmissions. National reductions in adverse drug events, falls, infections and other forms of harm are estimated to have prevented nearly 15,000 deaths in hospitals, and saved $4.1 billion in costs, and prevented 560,000 patient harms in 2011 and 2012 . . .