WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Three of Delaware's six general hospitals will lose out on some funding due to their patient safety record.
The Wilmington News Journal reports the federal government is penalizing the hospitals for having too many patient injuries and infections by taking away 1 percent in Medicare payments.
The Hospital-Acquired Conditions Reduction Program was created four years ago under the Affordable Care Act with the goal of improving the quality of patient care. Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Office Penny Short says this program gives hospitals insights on how to improve.
The measured conditions are potentially avoidable and include instances of bed sores and infections from various surgeries, among others.
Delaware and Connecticut have the highest percentage of hospitals penalized, with half of the hospitals in both states facing the payment reduction.
