Cost2Care: Addressing the economic and human cost of hospital acquired and nursing-sensitive adverse events in older patients through optimal use of routine discharge data and measurement of missed nursing care

The Ireland Health Research Board is running a 4-year funded project implementing the work of Prof Bail’s PhD into reporting of health data indicators for the hospital pricing authority. Older patients make up the largest proportion of acute hospital inpatient populations across all countries. Common hospital acquired adverse events in this group contribute to higher healthcare costs, lower quality care, and less satisfactory patient experiences overall. Pneumonia, delirium, urinary tract infections and pressure injuries are four commonly acquired complications that occur in older patients, known collectively as ‘Failure to Maintain (F2M)’ events.

This study will determine how these nurse sensitive outcomes are currently represented in routinely available national discharge (HIPE) data in Ireland. A structured chart review will be conducted in one hospital site to validate the rates of nursing-sensitive events available in the HIPE data. The cost of these events to the Irish Health Service will be calculated using ICD10 data, length of stay, and other variables associated with Cost of Illness calculations. The overall aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential for safer hospital care and reduced healthcare costs associated with older patients in acute hospitals in Ireland through routine measurement of missed nursing care in hospitals, and sustainable and accurate reporting of nurse-sensitive adverse events using routinely collected hospital discharge data.

For further information, reach out to Kasia Bail.