New AHRQ Report: Quality of Care and Patient Safety Are Improving, Particularly for Hospital Care, Although More Work Remains

New AHRQ Report: Quality of Care and Patient Safety Are Improving, Particularly for Hospital Care, Although More Work Remains

The overall quality of health care and patient safety are improving, particularly for hospital care and for measures that are publicly reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to AHRQ’s newly released 2014 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.  Hospital care was safer in 2013 than in 2010, with 17 percent fewer harms to patients and an estimated 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions, 50,000 fewer deaths, and $12 billion in cost savings over three years (2011, 2012, 2013). However, quality is still far from optimal, with millions of patients harmed by the care they receive, and only 70 percent of recommended care being delivered across a broad array of quality measures. A few disparities among racial groups for services such as childhood vaccinations have been reduced to zero; however, much additional work remains to address a broad range of other disparities affecting quality of care. This year’s report has been consolidated and now tracks performance measures that align with HHS’ National Quality Strategy. Chartbooks on specific topics such as patient safety and care coordination will be issued in coming months to provide more detailed information and easy-to-understand slides that can be downloaded for presentations. Complimentary copies of the report are available online and also can be ordered via email or phone, 1-800-358-9295.