New Research Validates Correlation Between Post-Operative Infection Rates and In-Hospital Mortality Rates for CABG Patients
New research has validated a positive and significant correlation between risk-adjusted post-operative infection rates and higher in-hospital mortality rates for patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG.) Lowering the post-operative infection rate for CABG patients clearly saves lives. It also has an increasing impact on the financial health of US hospitals.
Atlanta, GA, May 21, 2008 --(PR.com)-- New research has validated a positive and significant correlation between risk-adjusted post-operative infection rates and higher in-hospital mortality rates for patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG). There was no such correlation found between either the infection rates or mortality rates and the volume of CABG surgeries performed. The study was funded and conducted by Cardiac Data Solutions, Inc., in conjunction with leading physician researchers.
The study found that 21.7 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with a post-operative infection also suffered an in-hospital death. In addition, researchers found that hospitals achieving lower risk-adjusted infection
rates had lower risk-adjusted mortality rates.
“Lowering the post-operative infection rate for CABG patients clearly saves lives,” says April Simon, RN, MSN, one of the researchers and founder/president of Cardiac Data Solutions. “It also has an increasing impact on the financial health of US hospitals, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services planning to no longer reimburse hospitals for the added cost of care for certain conditions, including surgical site infections.” Another Cardiac Data Solutions study presented at QCORE found that hospitals on average are already losing money when Medicare beneficiaries experience select complications with CABG surgery.
To help improve survivability for CABG patients and lower hospital costs, Cardiac Data Solutions is conducting further research to determine best practices that lower post-operative infection rates. Researchers also plan to study whether hospitals with lower infection rates have implemented protocols and processes recommended by the national Surgical Care Improvement Project.
The lead researcher for the study was Phillip Brown, MD, cardiovascular surgeon (retired) and past chairman, Department of Surgery, Centennial Medical Center. Other researchers included: David J. Cohen, MD,, interventional cardiologist and director, Cardiovascular Research, Mid America Heart Institute, St. Luke’s Hospital; Aaron Kugelmass, M.D., director of Cardiac Catheterization at Henry Ford Hospital; Matthew R. Reynolds, MD, electrophysiologist and director, Economics and Quality of Life Core Lab, Harvard Clinical Research Institute, and Steven D. Culler, PhD, associate professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
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About Cardiac Data Solutions, Inc. (CDS)
Founded in 1999, Cardiac Data Solutions, Inc. (CDS) provides consultation services, data analysis, clinical benchmarks, management tools, research support services and leadership training to hospitals, physicians, payors, manufacturers and the financial community. CDS is focused solely on the cardiovascular market with the primary mission of supporting and improving clinical and business decisions to improve the quality of patient care. Using a proprietary data analysis tool with comprehensive and current data on clinical outcomes, CDS helps identify opportunities for improvement and develop evidence-based strategies to achieve them. For more information, visit www.cardiacdatasolutions.com.
The study found that 21.7 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with a post-operative infection also suffered an in-hospital death. In addition, researchers found that hospitals achieving lower risk-adjusted infection
rates had lower risk-adjusted mortality rates.
“Lowering the post-operative infection rate for CABG patients clearly saves lives,” says April Simon, RN, MSN, one of the researchers and founder/president of Cardiac Data Solutions. “It also has an increasing impact on the financial health of US hospitals, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services planning to no longer reimburse hospitals for the added cost of care for certain conditions, including surgical site infections.” Another Cardiac Data Solutions study presented at QCORE found that hospitals on average are already losing money when Medicare beneficiaries experience select complications with CABG surgery.
To help improve survivability for CABG patients and lower hospital costs, Cardiac Data Solutions is conducting further research to determine best practices that lower post-operative infection rates. Researchers also plan to study whether hospitals with lower infection rates have implemented protocols and processes recommended by the national Surgical Care Improvement Project.
The lead researcher for the study was Phillip Brown, MD, cardiovascular surgeon (retired) and past chairman, Department of Surgery, Centennial Medical Center. Other researchers included: David J. Cohen, MD,, interventional cardiologist and director, Cardiovascular Research, Mid America Heart Institute, St. Luke’s Hospital; Aaron Kugelmass, M.D., director of Cardiac Catheterization at Henry Ford Hospital; Matthew R. Reynolds, MD, electrophysiologist and director, Economics and Quality of Life Core Lab, Harvard Clinical Research Institute, and Steven D. Culler, PhD, associate professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
###
About Cardiac Data Solutions, Inc. (CDS)
Founded in 1999, Cardiac Data Solutions, Inc. (CDS) provides consultation services, data analysis, clinical benchmarks, management tools, research support services and leadership training to hospitals, physicians, payors, manufacturers and the financial community. CDS is focused solely on the cardiovascular market with the primary mission of supporting and improving clinical and business decisions to improve the quality of patient care. Using a proprietary data analysis tool with comprehensive and current data on clinical outcomes, CDS helps identify opportunities for improvement and develop evidence-based strategies to achieve them. For more information, visit www.cardiacdatasolutions.com.
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Cardiac Data Solutions
Karen Conway
303-564-2147
www.cardiacdatasolutions.com
Karen Conway
303-564-2147
www.cardiacdatasolutions.com
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