Achieving and sustaining reduction in hospital-acquired complications in an Australian local health service

Background Reducing the prevalence of hospital-acquired complications (HACs) is paramount for both patient safety and hospital financial performance because of its impact on patient's recovery and health service delivery by diverting resources away from other core patient care activities. While numerous reports are available in the literature for projects that successfully reduce specific HAC, questions remain about the sustainability of this isolated approach and there may be benefits for more wholistic programmes that aim to align prevention strategies across a hospital. This study describes such a programme that uses evidence and theories in the literature to achieve and sustain a reduction in HACs in an Australian local health service between 2019 and 2022.Methods An organisation-wide HACs Reduction Programme underpinned by a 3-pillar strategic framework (complete documentation, accurate coding, clinical effectiveness) and a 5-year roadmap to clinical excellence was developed. Priorities were identified through Pareto analysis and aligned at organisational, service and specialty levels. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 90-day cycle was modified to implement contextualised evidence-based interventions supported by the application of the Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability and Reinforcement change management model. Under this wholistic umbrella, specific projects were data-driven, evidence-based and outcome-oriented to promote clinical engagement and a continuous improvement culture.Results Overall mean HAC rate per 10 000 episodes of care decreased from a baseline of 459.5 across 2017 and 2018 to 363.1 in 2019 and remained lower through to the end of 2022 indicating sustained improvement in performance.Conclusion A wholistic approach to reduce HACs increased the likelihood of multidisciplinary integration for contextualised strategies and interventions. Improvement work, particularly in relation to patient outcomes, is a dynamic process that needs to be intentionally cultivated, targeted and coordinated. The modified IHI 90-day cycle proved to be an effective tool for implementation that contributed to sustained change.