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BryanLGH Medical Center Announces its Participation in the 100,000 Live Campaign Contributed to an Estimated 122,300 Lives Saved
For release: Immediately
Date: June 14, 2006
Contact: Peg Aschwege 402-481-8784
Edgar Bumanis 402-481-8663
Number: 06-14
LINCOLN, Neb. - BryanLGH Medical Center announced today that its participation in the 100,000 Lives Campaign, contributed to the estimated 122,300 number of lives saved in this unprecedented national initiative. The landmark 18-month Campaign was initiated by the nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in December of 2004 and challenged U.S. hospitals to save 100,000 lives through the implementation of six proven healthcare interventions. More than 3,000 hospitals have joined the Campaign – representing an estimated 75% of U.S. hospital beds. Dr. Donald Berwick, President and CEO of IHI, announced the national results of the Campaign on June 14.
“When we decided to launch the Campaign, we didn’t know if hospitals could take on another challenge," said Dr. Berwick. “But they have risen to this challenge impressively. The participating hospitals have not only prevented an estimated 122,300 unnecessary deaths, but they've also proven that it’s possible for the healthcare community to come together voluntarily to rapidly make significant changes in patient care. I have never before witnessed such widespread collaboration and commitment on the part of healthcare leaders and front-line staff to moving the system giant steps forward.”
Hospitals participating in the Campaign agreed to implement one or more of six evidence-based interventions. BryanLGH has implemented all six interventions:
- Activate a Rapid Response Team at the first sign that a patient’s condition is worsening and may lead to a more serious medical emergency.
- BryanLGH Rapid Response Team (BRRT) responds throughout the medical center. - Prevent patients from dying of heart attacks by delivering evidence-based care, such as appropriate administration of aspirin and beta-blockers to prevent further heart muscle damage.
- BryanLGH introduced cardiac alert response, communicating with paramedics in the field regarding medications. This ensures the emergency department and cath lab are ready when patients arrive. - Prevent medication errors by ensuring that accurate and continually updated lists of patients’ medications are reviewed and reconciled during their hospital stay, particularly at transition points.
- Medication reconciliation efforts are under way at BryanLGH. - Prevent patients who are receiving medicines and fluids through central lines from developing infections by following five steps, including proper hand washing and cleaning the patient’s skin with “chlorhexidine” (a type of antiseptic).
- Infection rate at BryanLGH is significantly better than the national average.
- BryanLGH implemented innovative sterile procedure cart practices to further promote a sterile environment. - Prevent patients undergoing surgery from developing infections by following a series of steps, including the timely administration of antibiotics.
- Revised timing and selection of antibiotics for optimal infection prevention.
- BryanLGH West operating rooms provide the highest level of fresh air circulation. - Prevent patients on ventilators from developing pneumonia by following four steps, including raising the head of the patient’s bed between 30 and 45 degrees.
- BryanLGH is among America’s leaders in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).
- IHI selected BryanLGH as a mentor hospital because of its success reducing VAP.
“Teamwork and a passion for consistent practices have been critical to our success,” says Karen Dike, RN, director of critical care services.“Every person, every time, following clinically proven practices – this is our commitment to high-quality care.”
IHI expects to announce plans at its National Forum in December for the next stage of this healthcare improvement initiative. In the interim, the national community of Campaign participants will redouble its efforts, committing to fully spread the Campaign’s improvement interventions throughout each participating facility and enact plans to sustain gains in performance. Simultaneously, IHI will work with expert groups and high-achieving facilities to explore new areas for hospital improvement that will be introduced in the next phase of the Campaign – complete with a new, ambitious aim for saving lives.
The 100,000 Lives Campaign is supported through unrestricted philanthropy from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Cardinal Health Foundation, the Colorado Trust, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Rx Foundation, Baxter International, the Blue Shield of California Foundation and the Leeds Family Foundation. National aggregate case-mix data and analysis supporting the Campaign’s “lives saved” calculation is generously provided, without restriction for use, by CareScience (a QUOVADX division), Solucient and the Premier Perspective™ Database.
