The Partnership for Patient Care (PPC) is a collaboration with Independence Blue Cross which began in 2006 to accelerate the effective adoption of evidence-based clinical practices by pooling the resources, knowledge, and efforts of healthcare providers. With assistance from ECRI Institute, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, and other experts, the Partnership's accomplishments during 2006-2009 have included the following:
• Prevention of Pressure Ulcers. HCIF brought together hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies at an October 2008 kick-off conference to address the common complications of pressure ulcers. This statewide educational initiative also involves the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania; ECRI Institute; Quality Insights of Pennsylvania; and the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania. For more information on activities of the Pennsylvania Pressure Ulcer Partnership, click here.
• A regional campaign to reduce the incidence of MRSA through the Fight MRSA Alliance.
• Eliminating wrong-site surgery;
• Reducing medication errors through improved medication reconciliation. The 17 hospital teams that worked together to improve processes for accurate medication reconciliation achieved a 17% improvement by implementing consistent practices for obtaining home medication lists and closely reviewing discharge medications. For more information, see the Medication Reconciliation Research Summary and the Medication Reconciliation Final Report.
• Preventing patient falls. A total of 21 teams participated, with an 8% improvement achieved. The biggest gains came from identifying medications that can increase risk of falls, and implementing prevention strategies such as falls toolkits. For more information, see the Falls Prevention Research Summary and the Falls Prevention Final Report.
• Reducing the risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). The 19 participating hospitals achieved a 20% improvement, primarily by complying with risk assessment and protocols. For more information, see the Deep-Vein Thrombosis Research Summary and the Deep-Vein Thrombosis Final Report.
• Promoting best practices on the safe use of anticoagulant drugs.
• Preventing surgical site infections. A total of 20 hospitals participated in workshops on appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis and glucose control during surgery. In the aggregate, the hospitals demonstrated significant progress in implementing evidence-based processes: a 21% improvement in antibiotic use processes was achieved by standardizing antibiotic regimens, and a 27% improvement in glucose control processes was achieved by assessing glucose levels before, during, and after surgery.
• Preventing central line bloodstream infections. A total of 29 hospitals participated in workshops focused on line insertion techniques and maintenance of central line catheters. As a group, the hospitals showed a 9% improvement in implemented processes, including practices such as standardizing insertion supplies and empowering caregivers to stop line insertions if sterilization techniques become compromised.