ABOUT PATIENT SAFETY FIRST

In 2010 Patient Safety First…a California Partnership for Health was launched to improve quality of care, reduce health care costs and ultimately save lives by improving patient safety and perinatal care in California. Patient Safety First (PSF) is a groundbreaking partnership between National Health Foundation, California’s Regional Hospital Associations, Anthem Blue Cross and over 100 hospitals across the state.

Based on the success of the first three years of this initiative, Patient Safety First has extended to a fourth year of implementation. Phase 2 of this initiative will focus on new aspects of patient safety and will build upon the work of the first three years of this project.

PHASE 2 FOCUS AREAS

• Sepsis Mortality
• C. Difficile
• Surgical Safety
• Perinatal Gestational Age Deliveries Under 39 weeks

Patient Safety First uses a collaborative model to help facilitate hospital improvement. Participating hospitals engage in regional peer to peer learning networks to share best practices, lessons learned and successful strategies for improvement. Hospitals submit data into the project database. Results from 2010-2011 include a 48% reduction in ventilator associated pneumonia, a 39% reduction in central line blood stream infections, a 65% reduction in early elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks, over $19 million dollars in costs avoided and 970 lives saved.