Federal report finds 17 percent decline in preventable harm to hospital patients

A federal review of hospital medical records and other data has found a 17 percent decline in infections, drug mistakes, bed sores and other preventable errors from 2010 to 2013, according to a report released Tuesday.

Using methods developed by health care quality experts, the report estimated that 50,000 fewer patients died in the hospital and about $12 billion in health care costs was saved as a result of the decline.

The report, while acknowledging that the reasons for the improvements aren't fully understood, does list likely contributing causes. They include carrots and sticks such as technical help, public reporting on errors and financial penalties established by the Affordable Care Act.

"Today's results are welcome news for patients and their families," Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a statement. "These data represent significant progress in improving the quality of care that patients receive while spending our health care dollars more wisely."

Dr. Peter Angood of the American Association for Physician Leadership, who wasn't involved in the federal report, said the health care industry has a long way to go, and it's still unclear which patient safety strategies work best in hospitals. He noted that the report finds that one in 10 hospital patients still experience such errors.

"A 10 percent significant error rate that creates harm, disability and possible death is way too high in American health care," Angood said.

The report analyzed conditions patients develop in the hospital such as adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, pressure ulcers and surgical site infections. Most of these so-called hospital-acquired conditions are considered avoidable.

The improvement mostly happened in 2012 and 2013, according to the report, and most of the decline came from fewer adverse drug events and pressure ulcers, or bed sores.

More than 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions were experienced by patients over the three years compared with the number that would have occurred if 2010 rates remained steady, according to the report.