Multiple patient safety events within a single hospitalization: a national profile in US hospitals

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Patient safety
• Hospital administration

Background:

• Iatrogenic events are a significant concern in healthcare.
• Understanding the co-occurrence of patient safety events is crucial for improving care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the co-occurrence of iatrogenic events in US hospitals.
• To define and estimate the prevalence of multiple patient safety events (MPSEs).
• To identify risk factors and resource implications of MPSEs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality patient safety indicators (PSIs).
• Defined MPSEs as the occurrence of multiple PSIs during a single hospitalization.
• Analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample for national prevalence, risk factors, length of stay, and hospital charges.

Main Results:

• MPSEs occurred in approximately 1 in 1000 hospitalizations, affecting over 30,000 patients in 2004.
• Significant risk factors included older age, Black race, Medicare coverage, and treatment at urban teaching hospitals.
• MPSE admissions had an average length of stay 4 times longer and average charges 8 times greater than all admissions.

Conclusions:

• MPSEs, despite low prevalence, impact a substantial number of patients.
• MPSEs are characterized by distinct factors and are significantly more resource-intensive.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to prevent and manage multiple patient safety events.