Ascension has prevented thousands of deaths and reduced serious safety events across its hospitals through systemwide initiatives, according to the health system.
The St. Louis-based health system — the fifth largest in the U.S. — operates 90 wholly owned or consolidated hospitals and has noncontrolling interests in 29 additional facilities.
In alignment with the system’s mission to heal without harm, Ascension said it has accomplished these five patient safety achievements, according to a March 11 news release:
1. Prevented more than 4,000 deaths since 2021 through the system’s recognize and rescue program, which is an initiative to standardize care and mitigate risk (recognize) and quickly intervene to prevent clinical deterioration (rescue). The program has recorded a 20% reduction in risk-adjusted mortality.
2. Avoided more than 1,100 potential harm events through the everyday hero of safety program, which recognizes voluntary reports that result in safety improvements and harm prevention.
3. Reduced procedural-related sentinel events by 36% across the system.
4. Achieved a patient safety indicator composite score that is 14% better than the national benchmark.
5. Accomplished infection rates below the national benchmark, including several hospital-acquired conditions such as central line-associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
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