Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Infection Prevention Partnership Reaches New Milestones for Enhancing Patie

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) today announced that a special joint program launched six years ago with participating New Jersey Network hospitals to enhance patient safety has prevented more than 14,000 hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and saved the healthcare system more than $51 million in avoided treatment costs.

The results reflect a six-year summary (2005 – 2011) of the New Jersey Infection Prevention Partnership Program (NJIPP), in which Horizon BCBSNJ, its participating New Jersey in-network hospitals, and CareFusion, the parent company of MedMined, Inc., work to prevent hospital-acquired infections through the deployment of data mining and artificial intelligence technologies. When the program commenced in 2005, ten New Jersey in-network hospitals participated. Program participation has since expanded to 21 New Jersey hospitals in Horizon BCBSNJ’s network.

Key performance results for the NJIPP from 2005 through 2011 include:

  • A dramatic 42.16 percent decrease in patients who developed blood infections, including Central Line Sepsis.
  • The avoidance of more than 14,000 hospital associated infections at participating hospitals
  • A 19.28 percent reduction in the Nosocomial Infection Marker (NIM) rate – an algorithm used to identify potential infections and a proxy for actual infections.

“This program demonstrates Horizon’s commitment to working with hospitals to improve patient safety, deliver quality care and reduce costs through technology,” said Jim Albano, Vice President of Healthcare Services at Horizon BCBSNJ. Albano noted that the advances to patient safety made possible through the MedMined technology extend to the participating hospital’s entire patient population - not just Horizon members - who are treated at the facilities.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that nearly six percent of all hospital patients acquire an infection, and that HAIs account for nearly 50 percent of all major patient complications in hospitals. HAIs are responsible for approximately 99,000 deaths a year at an average cost of $13,973 per infection and between $35 billion and $45 billion annually.

Through the NJIPP, MedMined is able to capture data already collected by hospitals to identify early warning signs, analyze trends, and provide expert advice to reduce infections. The program is voluntary, available to all Horizon participating hospitals and benefits all hospital patients, not only Horizon members.

Through the NJIPP, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey provides a grant to hospitals who participate in the program to subscribe to the MedMined Data Mining Surveillance system. Quarterly best practice meetings are held with hospitals, Horizon BCBSNJ and CareFusion representatives to share program experience, research and best practices.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health services corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving more than 3.6 million members with headquarters in Newark and offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com



CONTACT:

Horizon BCBSNJ
Tom Vincz, 973-466-6625
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New Jersey

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Data Management  Health  Hospitals  Infectious Diseases  Professional Services  Insurance  Other Professional Services  General Health

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