Report: Illinois hospitals lower infections, falls

The Illinois Hospital Association has issued a report on efforts to improve care by reducing the number of patients who get infections in the hospital and other conditions.

The report is based on the achievements of 200 hospitals and health systems in Illinois. The report finds that those hospitals reduced the number of falls, pressure ulcers, infections and other harmful events from 2011 to 2012. The estimated cost savings amount to more than $18 million.

Hospital association president Maryjane Wurth says the group's Innovations in Care and Quality provides innovative programs, resources and tools to help member hospitals with their efforts to improve.

Not all the news was rosy. The report finds preventable hospital readmissions remained at about 14 percent from 2011 to 2012.