MEDITECH Hospitals Involved in Campaign to Save 100,000 Lives

Most of us in the health care industry are familiar with the Institute of Medicine's 2001 report that estimates as many as 98,000 deaths in US hospitals are caused by medical errors. Now, the non-profit organization The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is focused on bringing a new statistic to light--one that documents patient lives saved, thanks to quality improvements undertaken by hospitals participating in the IHI's 100,000 Lives Campaign. This project is designed to help hospitals achieve measurable improvements in the quality and value of care delivery, goals the organizations share with MEDITECH.

Health care organizations participating in the 100,000 Lives Campaign are required to undertake specific measures recommended by the IHI, and submit site profiles as well as monthly inpatient mortality data. The IHI provides on-line tools and guidance for hospitals as they work toward such goals as deploying rapid response teams, delivering evidence-based care, and preventing adverse drug events. The 18-month campaign concludes in June 2006.

Several MEDITECH hospitals have been acting as campaign mentors by volunteering their support, advice, and clinical expertise to facilities seeking help with their efforts. They include:

Alexian Brothers Medical Center (Elk Grove Village, IL)
Berkshire Medical Center (Pittsfield, MA)
Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver, CO)
The Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE)
North Country Regional Hospital (Bemidji, MN)
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (Bennington, VT)
Frederick Memorial Hospital (Frederick, MD)
UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, MA)
Overlake Hospital Medical Center (Bellevue, WA)
Capital Region Medical Center (Jefferson City, MO)
Harford Memorial Hospital (Havre de Grace, MD)
Mercy Health Center (Oklahoma City, OK)
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (Bel Air, MD)

The 100,000 Lives Campaign is successfully tracking the experiences of more than 3,000 hospitals in this nationwide initiative to implement concrete changes that help prevent avoidable deaths. We applaud these health care organizations for their dedication to ensuring safe, effective health care!