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Memorial Hermann Contributes to Success of National 100,000 Lives Campaign

Houston, Texas – Best-practice measures implemented at hospitals across the Memorial Hermann system as part of the national 100,000 Lives Campaign lowered mortality rates in key patient categories.

The nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) initiated the 18-month effort in December 2004. It challenged U.S. hospitals to prevent 100,000 deaths by putting in place six proven healthcare interventions. More than 3,000 hospitals joined the Campaign, representing approximately 75 percent of U.S. hospital beds. The initiative exceeded its goal, saving an estimated 122,300 lives.

Memorial Hermann’s adoption of the six interventions saved an estimated 675 lives, said John Zerwas, M.D., the system’s chief medical officer. The estimates were calculated based on reductions in mortality rates between December 2004 and June 2006.

“Memorial Hermann played an innovative role in developing some of these interventions long before the 100,000 Lives Campaign began, particularly at our Texas Medical Center campus,” Zerwas said. “This program encouraged us to adopt other practices and to expand their use in all of our hospitals.”

By the Campaign’s end in mid-June, the measures had been implemented throughout the Memorial Hermann system. The interventions are:

Activating a Rapid Response Team at the first sign of patient decline.
Preventing heart-attack deaths by appropriately administering aspirin and beta-blockers to prevent heart muscle damage and by providing other effective treatments supported by medical evidence.
Preventing medication errors by ensuring that accurate and continually updated medication lists are reviewed and reconciled during hospital stays, particularly at transition points.
Preventing patients who are receiving medicines and fluids intravenously through central-line catheters from developing infections by following five steps, including proper hand washing and cleaning the patient’s skin with antiseptic.
Preventing infections in surgical patients by following a series of steps, including the timely administration of antibiotics.
Preventing patients on ventilators from developing pneumonia by following four steps, including raising the head of the patient’s bed 30 to 45 degrees.

“The end of this campaign is really just a beginning for participating hospitals,” Dr. Zerwas said. “Our staff always strives to improve safety and quality, and we will continue to use these programs as we search for more ways to save lives.”

IHI expects to announce plans at its National Forum in December for the next stage of this health care improvement initiative. The organization will work with expert groups and high-achieving facilities to explore new areas for hospital improvement that will be introduced in the next phase of the Campaign.

The 100,000 Lives Campaign is supported through unrestricted philanthropy from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Cardinal Health Foundation, the Colorado Trust, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Rx Foundation, Baxter International, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, and the Leeds Family Foundation. National aggregate case-mix data and analysis supporting the Campaign’s “lives saved” calculation is generously provided, without restriction for use, by CareScience (a QUOVADX division), Solucient and the Premier Perspective™ Database.

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