Premier, Inc., is an alliance of inpatient facilities that has team up with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on a pay-for-performce pilot called the Hospital Quality Improvement Demonstration. Premier reported on the pilot’s results today.

According to Premier’s analysis, if all pneumonia, heart bypass, heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), and hip and knee replacement patients nationally received most or all (76 to 100 percent) of a set of widely accepted care processes in 2004, it could have resulted in nearly 5,700 fewer deaths; 8,100 fewer complications; 10,000 fewer readmissions; and 750,000 fewer days in the hospital. In addition, hospital costs could have been as much as $1.35 billion lower. While the study findings from patients receiving care for pneumonia, heart bypass, heart attack and hip and knee replacement procedures are extremely positive, the findings from heart failure patients demonstrate a need for continued evaluation into the relationship between improved process delivery and outcomes.

The complete report is available here.