Baxter Provides Support to 100,000 Lives Campaign

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Baxter International Inc. announced today the company's participation in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) 100,000 Lives Campaign through a $200,000 grant and a commitment to further collaboration.  Baxter, one of the campaign's first healthcare industry participants, pledged its support earlier this year, which was announced this week during IHI's 17th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care in Orlando, Fla.

"The 100,000 Lives Campaign has successfully rallied thousands of hospitals together around a critical issue -- accelerating the pace of improvement in U.S. hospital care," said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter.  "As a company that's been providing innovative treatments for complex medical conditions to hospitals for over 70 years, we share the same passion for reducing medication errors and look forward to supporting such an influential effort for the improvement of healthcare in America."

"We appreciate Baxter's generous support of the 100,000 Lives Campaign," said Don Berwick, MD, president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.  "The momentum the Campaign has built over the last year wouldn't be possible without the commitment of hospitals and companies such as Baxter, who share our vision of improving the healthcare system through the adoption of consistent, proven interventions."

"Baxter's commitment to the campaign since nearly its inception has been tremendous," said Joe McCannon, manager of the 100,000 Lives Campaign. "Through Baxter's support, we have been able to reach more people and increase participation in this critical initiative."

More than 2,900 U.S. hospitals have joined the 100,000 Lives Campaign since its inception last December.  The campaign's goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality in U.S. hospitals, saving 100,000 lives over 18 months. This aggressive goal will be achieved through the adoption of six clinical interventions: creating rapid-response specialty teams; practicing evidence-based care for heart attack patients; preventing adverse drug events by making sure a patient is taking the appropriate drugs in the appropriate doses; guarding against infections through a series of hygienic steps; preventing surgical site infections; and protecting against ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Source: Baxter International Inc.