Between 2019 and 2024, the mortality risk for hospitalized surgical patients declined nearly 20%, according to an analysis from Vizient and the American Hospital Association.
Several factors contributed to this improvement in surgical outcomes. Between the first quarter of 2019 and the fourth quarter of 2024, post-operative sepsis declined 9.2%, post-operative respiratory failure by 19% and post-operative hemorrhage by 22.3%.
The findings come at a time when acuity is projected to continue rising for hospitalized surgery patients, according to Sg2, a Vizient company.
Infections and falls also decreased between 2019 and 2024, according to the report, which draws from Vizient’s database of more than 1,300 hospitals. The analysis focuses on 713 general, acute care hospitals across the U.S.
Among hospitalized surgical patients, vascular catheter-associated infections fell 9.2%, catheter-associated urinary tract infections decreased 6.6% and falls declined 10.7%.
“While hospitals are proud of these efforts, we know there is always more work to do to deliver the highest quality care possible,” Rick Pollack, AHA president and CEO, said in an Aug. 5 statement.
Despite improvements in several patient safety indicators, the average length of stay increased by one full day since 2019. Vizient and AHA said the substantial rise in patient acuity and delays in access to post-acute placement by some payers — particularly within Medicare Advantage programs — likely contributed to the LOS increase.