Why is the HSMR an important measure?
The Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR) has been used by hospitals in several countries to assess in-hospital mortality rates and to help organizations identify areas for improvement. As a quality indicator and a measure to help hospitals and health professionals follow trends in their hospital mortality rate, HSMR can be used as yet another tool to help improve quality of care and patient safety over time at York Central Hospital.
How are other hospitals using HSMR data to help drive down mortality rates and make quality improvements?
Ontario hospitals are using the Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR) for internal benchmarking purposes. Beginning with the reporting that started last year, this year’s reporting helps to show hospitals how their HSMR has changed, where they have made progress and where they can continue to improve.
This is similar to hospitals in other countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden and Holland, where HSMR data has been used to monitor performance and reduce mortality rates. For example, by tracking HSMR and implementing a range of improvements as a result of what they learned, the UK’s Walsall hospital was able to reduce mortality by 40% in only four years. To achieve these positive results, they established seven clinical governance groups and implemented a range of improvements based on the HSMR results.
Through HSMR, hospitals have been able to examine their results more effectively, identify areas for improvement, implement strategies to lower mortality, and track results over time.
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What other performance indicators does York Central Hospital use?
York Central Hospital examines a number of patient safety and quality indicators as part of our standard quality improvement efforts.
These indicators are from the Ontario Hospital Association Report series, and include:
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Use of Clinical Information Technology:
Clinical information is available electronically to healthcare providers inside and outside the hospital
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Use of Data for Decision-Making:
We distribute and use both clinical and administrative data for decision-making
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Use of Standardized Protocols:
We are developing and using standardized protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of relatively common clinical conditions and procedures
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Community Involvement and Coordination of Care:
We consult with our healthcare providers inside our hospital and in our community to meet the needs of our patients
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care passed a regulation in June 2008, requiring all Ontario hospitals to report on a variety of patient safety indicators. York Central Hospital also publicly reports on a host of other patient safety indicators to inspire improved performance and enhance patient safety. These include:
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Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), as of September 30, 2008
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as of December 31, 2008
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Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), as of December 31, 2008
We plan to publicly release information on a host of other indicators in the near future.
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