Ohio hospitals begin patient safety program

The Ohio Hospital Association last week launched its participation in Partnership for Patients program, a national public-private collaboration of hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies designed to improve health care quality, safety and affordability (Source: “Ohio begin Partnership for Patients program on Friday,” Healthcare Payer News, March 22, 2012).

In December, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded OHA and the Ohio Patient Safety Institute a hospital engagement contract as part of $218 million given to 26 states.

“We are honored to lead this extraordinary initiative to help hospitals with patient care,” said David Engler, OHA Vice President, Quality Institute, in a press release. “Our goal is to reduce inpatient harm by 40% and readmissions by 20% by the end of 2013. Ohio hospitals are continually driving progress by collaborating on ways to improve the care they provide.”