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Life-saver plan for hospitals
A revolutionary health improvement scheme is to be introduced at two Wigan hospitals.
From October 1, the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital will take part in Advancing Quality, a three year, voluntary programme which, organisers believe, will save lives and resources.
The hospitals will be asked to show that they have met a series of quality standards when treating patients for five common conditions procedures – heart attacks, pneumonia, heart failure, hip and knee replacements and heart bypass operations.
Top-performing hospitals which show they have met the standards will receive financial rewards which will be reinvested in health services.
Mike Farrar, chief executive of NHS North West, said: "At the end of the first 12 months of this programme – which was first pioneered in the US – we're confident we will have delivered significant improvements to patient care."
It is claimed that the programme could save up to 17m every year by cutting unnecessary re-admissions and the time patients have to spend in hospital whilst at the same time improving the patient care.
Sophisticated new IT information and reporting systems have been introduced specifically for the programme to help to minimise the impact on staff workloads.
Premier Inc, a company which helped pioneer a similar system in the American "not for profit" healthcare sector, is a partner in the scheme.
In the US, hospitals which performed well saw lower death rates, reduced complications, fewer re-admissions and shorter lengths of stay for patients.
Based on these figures, NHS North West has estimated that, across the region, 141 lives could be saved and 20,811 hospital days avoided.
It is also estimated that 159 complications and 248 re-admissions could be avoided.
Mr Farrar added: "Advancing Quality has huge potential to improve patient care – and therefore quality of life – for patients using the NHS in the North West."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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