Quality leaders, front line staff and support personnel of more than 100 hospitals across the state became “agents of change” this year as they worked to improve patient safety. Their accomplishments in the 12-month initiative, Hospital Engagement Network 2.0 (HEN2.0), were recognized by the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative, American Hospital Association, and Health Research and Educational Trust at a statewide HEN 2.0 meeting held in Topeka last week.
Kansas hospitals participated in the campaign conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Partnership for Patients program involving more than 3,700 hospitals nationally. The Kansas HEN 2.0 was managed by the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative, on behalf of the Kansas Hospital Association in partnership with the AHA/HRET and more than 30 other state hospital associations.
HEN 2.0 continued a national initiative with the ambitious goal to reduce adverse events by 40 percent and readmissions by 20 percent. Hospitals worked together to make improvements in processes and outcomes for 10 or more core patient safety areas, such as the prevention of falls, infections and adverse drug events.
“The success of Kansas hospitals in improving patient safety is remarkable,” said Tom Bell, KHA president and CEO. “Kansas hospitals have been leading by example, offering effective methods an resources that inspire all to do all they can for their patients. KHA is proud of hospitals’ participation in state and national quality initiatives and is encouraged by the positive impact on the delivery of care.”
In HEN 2.0, Kansas’ most impactful 40/20 successes were in the focus areas of CAUTI (catheter associated urinary tract infections), CLABSI (central line associated bloodstream infections), and EED (early elective deliveries). Through 2016, Kansas hospitals improved patient care by reducing CLABSI by 55 percent, CAUTI by 28 percent, and EED by 70 percent. Through teamwork, accountability and leadership, in less than 12 months, the Kansas HEN 2.0 resulted in prevention of an estimated 234 harms at an estimated health care cost savings of more than $1.6 million.
In addition to improved patient outcomes, hospitals have made significant strides in expanding use of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s quality improvement model, as well as adoption of evidence-based methods to improve patient and family engagement, worker safety and equity of care. Through the Kansas HEN 2.0, KHC also offered hospitals two statewide collaboratives to focus on emerging priorities. One focused on early recognition and prevention of sepsis, and another helped hospitals proactively engage patients and families in their care, as well as at the organizational level through establishment of patient and family advisory councils.
Kendra Tinsley, executive director of the KHC said, “I have watched Kansas hospitals and providers grow in their improvement work, and I have seen their amazing accomplishments. The success of the Kansas HEN 1.0 and 2.0 is attributed to the investment, the commitment and the dedication of individuals and organizations throughout the state as they deliver patient care each and every day.”
Access a list of the 106 Kansas hospitals participating in the Kansas HEN 2.0 here.
The national HEN as well as the Kansas HEN provided education and resources to Kansas hospitals, including evidence-based practice protocols for reducing harm, technical assistance and consultation specific to a hospital’s needs, nationally and locally-renowned subject matter experts providing the latest information and the opportunity for peer-to-peer learning.
Throughout the course of the one-year project, hospitals in the AHA/HRET HEN 2.0 network prevented over 34,000 harms and contributed to more than $288 million in cost savings. Results of its collective efforts are available in a final report at www.hret-hen.org.