Phoebe creates index to measure patient care

Phoebe Hospital has created a patient safety index, which allows them to measure how well their patients are being treated.

The hospital takes six factors into account when they figure this patient index.

Infections, UTI's, blood stream infections, fall injuries, medication errors, and pressure ulcers are calculated in the index.

Pressure ulcers in patients had the biggest reduction recently, dropping by more than 80 percent.

Steven Kitchen, Chief Medical Officer at Phoebe, says the fall risk is likely the most preventable factor.

"Spend a real dedicated effort around assessing fall risk and doing everything, uh, that's prudently possible to reduce the number of falls," said Kitchen.

Fall injuries have been reduced by 30 percent and Kitchen says the number of accidents will continue to go down.

Kitchen also says that Phoebe plans to make this an ongoing initiative so their patients can get the best care possible.