Declines in Hospital-Acquired Conditions Save 8,000 Lives and $2.9 Billion in Costs

National efforts to reduce hospital-acquired conditions such as adverse drug events and injuries from falls helped prevent 8,000 deaths and save $2.9 billion between 2014 and 2016, according to a report released today by AHRQ. The AHRQ National Scorecard on Hospital-Acquired Conditions estimates that 350,000 hospital-acquired conditions were avoided and the rate was reduced by 8 percent from 2014 to 2016. Data on these conditions are calculated and analyzed by AHRQ to help the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services track efforts to reduce patient harm by 20 percent from 2014 to 2019. Continuing reductions in hospital-acquired conditions are a signal that ongoing initiatives by AHRQ and other federal agencies are helping to make care safer. Access the press release and an infographic.