Keywords

inpatient mortality, patient safety, performance improvement

Authors

1. Comeau, Elaine MS, RN, CHE
2. Adkinson, Kathy RN, CHPN

Abstract

In 2001, St Joseph Hospital in Augusta, Ga, reorganized its patient safety initiatives to improve patient care outcomes. By 2004, we decided to focus the many clinical projects toward one goal, reducing inpatient mortality. One year later, raw mortality decreased by 29% and severity-adjusted mortality decreased by 25.5%.