Falls legislation proposed in Congress

The Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act was introduced in Congress earlier this month. The act, sponsored by Rep. Ralph M. Hall (R- TX) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), seeks to create a national public education and awareness campaign that informs healthcare professionals about how to reduce falls, which are the leading cause of death among seniors, affecting one-third of adults over 65 each year.

The bill will expand research and provide demonstration projects to develop better ways to prevent falls and improve the treatment and rehabilitation of fall victims.

“The type of education on elderly falls provided through this bill will help inform health professionals about how to reduce these avoidable and frequently disabling injuries,” Rep. Pallone said. The bill is supported by the National Council on the Aging, the Home Safety Council and the National Safety Council.

100,000 Lives campaign reduces deaths from medical errors

A campaign to reduce medical errors in hospitals has saved the lives of an estimated 122,300 patients at about 3,100 hospitals nationwide, according to data released June 14, at the conclusion of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 100,000 Lives campaign, which began in December, 2004.

The campaign, sponsored by the IHI, supported by JCAHO, with more than 3,000 participating hospitals, focused on making six kinds of changes in patient care:

* deploy rapid response teams at the first sign of patient decline
* deliver reliable care for acute myocardial infarction to prevent deaths from heart attacks
* prevent adverse drug events by implementing medication reconciliation
* prevent central line infections
* prevent surgical site infections by delivering correct perioperative care
* prevent pneumonia

“The campaign has exceeded our highest expectations,” said Dr. Donald Berwick, president/ceo of the IHI. “The hospitals have not only prevented unnecessary deaths, but they’ve proven that it’s possible for the health care community to come together voluntarily to rapidly make significant changes in patient care.”