6.15.2006 - 02:08pm ET

(CSRwire) CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 2006--The Premier Inc.
healthcare alliance announced today that the participation of approximately 900 of its member hospitals helped save an estimated 35,484 lives in 18 months as a part of the 100,000 Lives Campaign. In all, 122,342 lives were saved as a part of this national initiative.

The landmark Campaign, which was initiated by the nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in December 2004, challenged U.S. hospitals to save 100,000 lives through the implementation of six proven healthcare interventions. More than 3,000 hospitals have joined the Campaign, representing an estimated 80 percent of U.S. hospital beds. Dr. Donald Berwick, president and CEO of IHI, announced the national results of the Campaign on June 14.

"When we decided to launch the Campaign, we didn't know if hospitals could take on another challenge, but they have risen to this challenge impressively, " said Dr. Berwick. "The participating hospitals have not only prevented an estimated 120,000 unnecessary deaths, but they've also proven that it's possible for the healthcare community to come together voluntarily to rapidly make significant changes in patient care."

"We are absolutely thrilled by these results and are extremely proud of our hospital members for their efforts as a part of this groundbreaking campaign," said Stephanie Alexander, senior vice president for Premier Healthcare Informatics. "IHI presented a thorough format and exuded tireless effort, allowing hospitals such as our membership to improve their practices in and around infection control and prevention and, most importantly, save patient lives."

Throughout the Campaign and going forward, Premier member hospitals have implemented and will continue to implement the following evidence-based interventions:

-- Activate a Rapid Response Team at the first sign that a patient's condition is worsening and may lead to a more serious medical emergency.

-- Prevent patients from dying of heart attacks by delivering evidence-based care, such as appropriate administration of aspirin and beta-blockers to prevent further heart muscle damage.

-- Prevent medication errors by ensuring that accurate and continually updated lists of patient medications are reviewed and reconciled during their hospital stay, particularly at transition points.

-- Prevent patients who are receiving medicines and fluids through central lines from developing infections by following five steps, including proper hand washing and cleaning the patient's skin with "chlorhexidine" (a type of antiseptic).

-- Prevent patients undergoing surgery from developing infections by following a series of steps, including the timely administration of antibiotics.

-- Prevent patients on ventilators from developing pneumonia by following four steps, including raising the head of the patient's bed between 30 and 45 degrees.

IHI expects to announce in December plans for the next stage of its healthcare improvement initiative. In the interim, IHI will work with expert groups and high-achieving facilities to explore new areas for hospital improvement that will be introduced in the next phase of the campaign.

The 100,000 Lives Campaign is supported through unrestricted philanthropy from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Cardinal Health Foundation, the Colorado Trust, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Rx Foundation, Baxter International, the Blue Shield of California Foundation and the Leeds Family Foundation. National aggregate case-mix data and analysis supporting the campaign's "lives saved" calculation is generously provided, without restriction for use, by CareScience (a QUOVADX division), Solucient and the Premier Perspective(TM) Database.

About The Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (www.ihi.org) is a not-for-profit organization leading the improvement of healthcare throughout the world. Founded in 1991 and based in Cambridge, MA, IHI is a catalyst for change, cultivating innovative concepts for improving patient care and implementing programs for putting those ideas into action. Thousands of healthcare providers, including many of the finest hospitals in the world, participate in IHI's groundbreaking work.

About Premier Inc.

Premier Inc. helps hospitals accelerate performance on both clinical outcomes and supply chain costs. Premier is a healthcare alliance entirely owned by more than 200 of the nation's leading not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems. These organizations operate or are affiliated with nearly 1,500 hospitals and more than 38,500 other healthcare sites. Premier Purchasing Partners provides an array of services supporting health services delivery including group purchasing totaling more than $25 billion annually in supplies and equipment purchasing, as well as supply chain and clinical performance improvement services. Premier Healthcare Informatics offers performance measurement, benchmarking, and reporting products and advisory services supporting quality improvement. Premier Insurance Management Services helps hospitals manage insurance costs and improve risk management and claims capabilities. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Premier has offices in Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.



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