Slideshow: The Partnership for Patients

Partnership for Patients: Better Care, Lower Costs, an initiative by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, launched on April 11, 2011. It is a public-private partnership intended to improve the quality, safety and affordability of healthcare for every American. Major hospitals, employers, physicians, nurses and patient advocates have come together with state and federal governments to make these goals a reality. Click on the photos to enlarge.

On April 11, CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, MD spoke at the Partnership for Patients Launch at the National Press Club. HHS photo by Michael Wilker.

The goals of Partnership for Patients are to prevent patients from getting injured or sicker and to help patients heal without complication. The initiative hopes, by the end of 2013, that preventable hospital-acquired conditions will decrease by 40 percent. This could result in over 60,000 lives saved. Furthermore, the partnership has a goal to decrease hospital readmissions by 20 percent. If these goals are achieved, up to $35 billion could be saved across the healthcare system.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius officially kicks off the Partnership for Patients at the National Press Club on April 11. HHS photo by Michael Wilker.

Sorrel King, a patient advocate from Baltimore, MD delivered opening remarks to show support for the Partnership for Patients initiative. HHS photo by Michael Wilker.