Sept. 29, 2016:  Statement of Betsy Ryan, NJHA President and CEO, On Selection of NJHA as a “Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network”

“We are thrilled to once again be chosen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to lead New Jersey hospitals in the essential work of making healthcare better for the people of our state. This is the third time CMS has selected NJHA’s Health Research and Educational Trust for this role, and it’s testament to the results we’ve achieved:

• more than 14,000 cases of patient harm averted
• more than $120 million in healthcare cost savings
• the second-best rate of reducing hospital readmissions in the nation
• dramatic improvement in reducing infection and sepsis mortality rates, adverse drug events and other important quality measures.

In this period of massive change in our healthcare system, the number one goal is to deliver better, more cost-effective healthcare to the people. And that’s what NJHA and New Jersey healthcare providers have done since our initial involvement in the Partnership for Patients initiative in 2012. Every hospital in the state has participated in this effort, and we’ve partnered with post-acute providers to engage the full healthcare continuum. Moving forward, our focus will remain on reducing adverse healthcare events and readmissions, along with new areas of emphasis including health disparities and antibiotic stewardship.

We are deeply committed to this work – deeply committed to our patients – and we are poised and energized to continue our quality journey as a CMS-designated Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network.”