(PRWEB) October 21, 2006 -- ABC World News with Charlie Gibson profiled Intermountain Healthcare's cost reduction and quality improvement program. The story is part of a weeklong series on ABC World News called: "Prescription for Change, Fixing American Healthcare."

In the segment, Harvard trained surgeon and statistician Dr. Brent James discusses Intermountain's clinical programs, highlighting protocols that improve quality, lower costs and save lives.

The new Intermountain protocols include:

* Every cardiac patient receives five specific drugs
* Induced early labor for the sake of convenience is no longer allowed
* All newborns are tested for jaundice: previously 1,300 jaundiced babies were sent home each year because they appeared healthy, only to come back for intensive care

Since the protocols were implemented, Intermountain has seen quality improve and costs reduced by $50 million.

* The number of newborns returning for intensive care has dropped by 70%
* The new cardiac drugs have saved 450 lives per year
* Intermountain has saved $50 million

Intermountain's experience shows how quality improvement and cost improvement are linked.

To view the ABC World News segment, please visit the ABC News World Website.

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The Healthcare Management Council, Inc.
Sheley Burns
262-242-9471
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