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Labette Health recently announced its participation in the second round of the national Hospital Engagement Network, known as HEN 2.0, according to Brian Williams, President and CEO.

HEN 2.0 is a 12-month comprehensive patient safety initiative conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through its Partnership for Patients program. At the state level, Labette Health is a part of the Kansas HEN led by the Topeka-based Kansas Healthcare Collaborative in partnership with the Kansas Hospital Association, the American Hospital Association, and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Through the Kansas HEN, Labette Health works collaboratively with 106 hospitals across the state and 3,700 hospitals across the nation. All are continuing their work in 10 or more core patient safety areas, such as the prevention of falls, infections and adverse drug events.

"Partnership for Patients is a national effort to help hospitals work together to improve quality," said Tereasa DeMeritt, Quality Director at Labette Health. "We are excited to see our work is paying off and we are making noticeable improvements."

The Partnership for Patients is a nationwide collaborative effort to reduce inpatient harm by at least 40 percent and hospital readmissions by at least 20 percent—by September 23, 2016.

Labette Health achieved a 49.73 percent reduction in readmissions and at least a 40 percent reduction in the following areas: Adverse Drug Events, Obstetrical Harm, Falls, Surgical Site Infections, and Venous Thromboembolism.

According to a December 1, 2015, report released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the first four years of the HEN contributed to the saving of approximately 87,000 lives and nearly $20 billion in healthcare costs.

KHC is a provider-led 501(c)3 organization with a mission to transform healthcare through patient-centered initiatives that improve quality, safety and value. Founded in 2008 by the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society, KHC embodies the commitment of two of the state's leading healthcare provider groups to act as a resource and continuously enhance the quality of care provided to Kansans. For more information about the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative and its initiatives, visit www.khconline.org.