Using adverse event-free admissions as patient safety indicator

Editor's Note

Adverse event-free admissions provide a patient-centered indicator that aligns directly with patient safety, this study finds.

Using Medicare data from 2009 to 2011, researchers found that 64% of 24 million admissions had no adverse events. Multiple events were recorded in 22.7%, and 15% of these had more than two adverse events.

Even if adverse events are under recorded, they could provide an easily understandable and useful baseline for clinicians and managers for patient safety, the authors say.

Objective: To investigate adverse event free admissions as a potential, patient-centered indicator aligned directly with the goal of patient safety-freedom from harm. Background: Preventable adverse event rates in healthcare could be further reduced. These are generally measured separately, one ...