Summit attendees say HAIs are most difficult preventable medical conditions
to address; Hospitals must improve infection prevention awareness,
education and training to reduce HAIs
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As health care providers
brace for an October deadline when Medicare will lower reimbursement rates
for certain preventable medical conditions, more than 400 health care
industry leaders are meeting to learn how to implement a zero-tolerance
approach to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
HAIs are preventable medical conditions that are a major concern for
health care organizations because of their staggering human toll and
significant economic impact. It has been estimated that in the United
States, HAIs affect nearly 2 million patients annually, killing as many as
100,000 patients and adding as much as $20 billion in additional costs to
the health care industry.
The inaugural Chasing Zero Summit on hospital-acquired infections,
hosted by Cardinal Health, takes place today through Sept. 10 and is
occurring during a pivotal time for the U.S. health care industry. As of
Oct. 1, Medicare will lower or eliminate reimbursement for 11 avoidable
medical conditions, four of which are HAIs, leaving hospitals with a
compelling economic imperative to take immediate steps to eliminate
infections.
In an informal poll of Chasing Zero Summit attendees, respondents said
that of the 11 preventable conditions that will receive lower or no
Medicare reimbursements, the top three most difficult conditions to address
are HAIs. In addition, 80 percent of poll respondents indicated that
increasing hospital staff awareness, education and training related to
infection prevention would have the most significant impact on providers'
abilities to reduce HAIs.
"I believe that one of the keys to driving a meaningful reduction in
the cost of care is improving the quality of care," said R. Kerry Clark,
chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health. "It's clear that HAIs represent a
great challenge and a great opportunity to drive measurable improvements in
patient safety and reduce overall health care costs."
Chasing Zero Summit speakers include Dr. Alan Greenspan, chairman of
the Federal Reserve System from 1987 to 2006; Dr. Thomas Valuck, Center for
Medicare Management medical officer and senior advisor; Dr. Mark McClellan,
director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings
Institution and Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, James Madison Professor of Political
Economics at Princeton University.
The summit will also feature the country's foremost health authorities,
including the chief executive officers of the National Quality Forum (NQF),
the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Leapfrog Group;
president and chief patient safety officer of the Joint Commission and
director of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), among
others.
A full agenda, complete with presentation topics and speaker
biographies, is available at http://www.CardinalHealth.com/ChasingZero/HAI
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a
$91 billion, global company serving the health care industry with products
and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce
costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better
care to patients. With a focus on making supply chains more efficient,
reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful
medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies,
including Alaris(R) IV pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing systems,
MedMined(TM) electronic infection surveillance service, VIASYS(R)
respiratory care products and the CareFusion(TM) patient identification
system. The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is
one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
worldwide. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more
than 40,000 people on five continents. More information about the company
may be found at http://www.cardinalhealth.com
SOURCE Cardinal Health
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Related links:
http://www.cardinalhealth.com
CONTACT:
Media, Troy Kirkpatrick, +1-614-757-6225,
troy.kirkpatrick@cardinalhealth.com; or Investors, Jon Lyons,
+1-614-757-3996, jon.lyons@cardinalhealth.com, both of Cardinal
Health
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