A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systemic approach towards problem solving used to determine the root cause of a problem. (1) This process is critical in identifying strategies that can prevent harmful incidents and events within the healthcare setting. Hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities often use RCAs to investigate sentinel events.

In today’s healthcare environment, there is an overwhelming need to demonstrate the value and return on investment of implementing a new technology solution. When used correctly, healthcare technology has the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes and decrease costs, particularly in the area of patient safety.

Health information technology is an important tool for improving quality and safety outcomes in healthcare. The implementation of health information technology (HIT) improves a provider’s ability to diagnose diseases, prevent medical errors, and reduce adverse drug reactions, which results in better patient outcomes over time. (1, 2)

Patient feedback plays an integral role in healthcare organization’s quality improvement efforts. During a typical 3 to 4 day stay in a large hospital, a patient may interact with up to 50-60 employees. (1) In order to maintain high quality outcomes and avoid missed revenue opportunities, it’s important for organizations to ensure that a patient’s interactions with their healthcare system are as positive as possible.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017, and 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously. (1)

The Center for Disease Control estimates that on any given day, 1 in 31 hospital patients has a HAI. (1) Although many HAIs are preventable, their high prevalence leads to harmful effects on patient’s physical, mental, and financial health—and cost billions of dollars in added expenses to the healthcare system.

Health economists at the CDC estimate that the annual costs of HAIs in the United States are between $28 billion- $45 billion per year. (1)

Over 1.3 million Americans are admitted to or reside in nursing homes each year. (1) Like patients in acute care facilities, nursing home residents are at risk for acquiring healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can cause discomfort and pain for residents and can have significant adverse consequences.