UNYSQI brings American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to collaborating network providers. ACS NSQIP is the first nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care. This Health Plan sponsored, team-learning collaborative provides sharing of best practices and expertise to help drive statewide quality improvement in surgical care, through use of the ACS NSQIP – the “Gold Standard” for surgical results reporting.

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) generate an average of $28,211 in extra costs per case and comprise 38% of all morbidities. (1) As responsibility for these costs shifts to the provider, whether a rural hospital or an academic medical center, the savings realized can be the difference between profitability and loss. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) increase a patient’s hospital costs by 47% at teaching hospitals and 35% at community hospitals. Four out of five surgical patients receive catheters. (1) With device-related UTIs on CMS and other payers’ “hospital acquired conditions” list, even occasional infections can deplete hospital resources.To fix a problem, one must know a problem exists. The UNYSQI strives to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient through data-driven, focused, and measureable efforts utilizing proven best practices that are tied to financial results. The UNYSQI works on the premise that only through outcome measurements and the use of timely data, rather than just process measurements, can system problems be solved. The analysis of every surgical error and complication must be examined to prevent reoccurrence, thus reducing harm, improving patient outcomes, and reducing inpatient LOS.