Partnership for Patients

Partnership for Patients - Healthcare.gov. Proud to be partners in better care at lower costs.

IPRO has joined a growing number of public and private organizations across the country that have pledged their commitment to working together to stop millions of preventable healthcare-associated injuries and complications over the next three years.

The Partnership for Patients was announced by the US Department of Health and Human Services on April 12, 2011. By bringing together leaders of organizations representing physicians, nurses, hospitals, health plans, employers and unions, patients and their advocates, as well as the Federal and State governments in a shared effort, the Partnership will strive to make healthcare safer, more reliable and less costly.

Participants have pledged their commitment to achieve the Partnership's two core goals by the end of 2013:

1. Keeping patients from getting injured or sicker. Accidents happen, and too often patients in hospitals experience preventable harm. The Partnership seeks to increase efforts to prevent harm to patients in hospitals. By the end of 2013, preventable hospital-acquired conditions will decrease by 40% compared to 2010.  
2. Helping patients heal without complication. Patients are often at their most vulnerable when leaving the hospital to continue healing at home, in an assisted living facility, or in another care setting. The Partnership seeks to improve continuity and effectiveness of care during transitions from one care setting to another and decrease preventable hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. By the end of 2013, preventable complications during a transition from one care setting to another will be decreased and all hospital readmissions will be reduced by 20% compared to 2010.

Achieving these goals will save lives and prevent injuries to millions of Americans, and has the potential to save up to $35 billion dollars across the healthcare system, including up to $10 billion in Medicare savings, over the next three years.  

The Partnership will target all forms of harm to patients, but will start by asking hospitals to focus on nine types of medical errors and complications where the potential for dramatic reductions in rates has been demonstrated, such as preventing: adverse drug reactions, pressure ulcers, childbirth complications and surgical site infections.

Participants in the Partnership -- which also outlines a significant role for consumers, communities and patient organizations -- pledge to join in a shared effort to save thousands of lives, stop millions of injuries, and take important steps toward a more dependable and affordable healthcare system.