Healthcare teams across American hospitals work tirelessly every day to provide safe, high-quality care to each of their patients, with a constant focus on identifying best practices to drive better outcomes and advancements in patient care. This conversation has been further enriched through report series like the AHA’s insights, which collaborates with data partners for a detailed analysis of hospital and health system progress concerning patient safety.
In a significant development in September 2024, a report created in partnership with Vizient revealed numerous indicators of healthcare quality and patient safety, including mortality rates and healthcare-associated infections, showing a marked improvement amidst an overall increase in patients with serious healthcare needs.
Numerous outcome measures reflecting the tireless work of nurses to safeguard patients were highlighted in the latest insights report. This report, produced in collaboration with Press Ganey, showcases a consistent increase in the patient and healthcare workforce’s experiences. It underscores the growth of safety culture—an important predictor of improved safety outcomes and enhanced experiences for both patients and staff.
The report utilized the Press Ganey National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI), analyzing data reported by 25,652 units from 2,430 inpatient acute care hospitals. Notable measures included rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), harmful patient falls, and the prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), or bed sores. Examination of these key indicators shows a decrease since pandemic-related peaks, with most measures across all units achieving—or even improving upon—pre-pandemic levels.
Patients’ perception of safety and care is instrumental in building reputation and trust. Data shows that patients who perceived their care as safe were 2.5 to 3 times more likely to recommend the hospital to others. This perception stems from their personal interactions with the hospital team, their observation of health safety practices like handwashing and cleanliness, and witnessing team cooperation in care delivery.
Hospital team cohesion is a significant driver in patient satisfaction across clinical areas such as inpatient and outpatient care, surgical and medical departments, and emergency and scheduled care services. Moreover, the data indicates a rising trend where higher team member engagement correlates with improved patient experience scores. A robust safety culture hence, plays a critical role in enhancing patient outcomes and improving care teams’ engagement.
Concerning data from the pandemic aftermath, hospital performance in safety culture and quality and safety metrics are gradually resurging, signaling the beginning potential for further growth. Improvement is a continuous endeavor, and hospitals remain firmly committed to enhancing the safety and quality of their care, patient experiences, and care team well-being.
he American Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Initiative helps hospitals and health systems bolster safety culture. Launched in 2023, it aims to address disparities in health care outcomes and promote staff well-being while using safety improvement strategies that are both proven and innovative.
To facilitate learning across hospitals and health systems, the AHA produces resources such as the ‘Leading for Safety’ video series and the ‘Safety Speaks’ podcast series. These showcase insights from leaders of renowned hospitals and health systems, often recipients of AHA’s Quest for Quality award.