Hospital-wide indicators
We compare our performance with other hospitals in (inter)national measurement programs. At the same time, we are introducing new key figures within the hospital to make the quality provided in our clinics and departments more transparent. It is particularly important to us that the quality indicators are recorded as digitally as possible for subsequent evaluation.
Qualitätskennzahlen sind klar definierte, statistische Messgrössen zur Bewertung der Qualität eines Prozesses oder einer Leistung. Solche Messgrössen sind die Grundlage für eine kontinuierliche Überwachung und Verbesserung der medizinischen Behandlungsqualität eines jeden Spitals. Da Qualität ein komplexes Konstrukt ist, werden stets mehrere solcher Messgrössen oder «Kennzahlen» kombiniert, welche jeweils einen Aspekt der Qualität beleuchten.
Case numbers, complication and mortality rates
The USB is a founding member of the IQM Quality Medicine Initiative. This initiative, which is supported by over 500 hospitals in Germany and Switzerland, has been promoting the quality and transparency of medical treatment for 15 years. Based on routine data, IQM calculates the number of cases, complication rates and mortality rates per hospital for a large number of diagnoses and procedures. The hospitals compare their results with each other and can initiate improvement measures where necessary through targeted exchanges with experts as part of peer reviews.
About the key figures:
You can find our IQM case numbers, complication and mortality rates here.
Infections acquired in hospital
In order to record hospital-acquired infections, the USB has been conducting an annual prevalence survey since 1999. The survey takes place on a specific date on which all patients hospitalized on this date are examined for hospital-acquired infections.
Key figure: Rate of hospital-acquired infections (proportion of patients with hospital-acquired infections per 100 patients)
In 2023, the proportion of hospital-acquired infections in the key date survey was 6.0%. This put the University Hospital Basel in line with the Swiss average (5.9%).
Source: Report Prevalence of nosocomial infections at the University Hospital Basel in May 2023; University Hospital Basel, Clinic for Infectiology & Hospital Hygiene. All wards surveyed excluding: emergency ward, haematology isolation ward, crisis intervention ward, eye clinic, nuclear medicine; comparative values: Swissnoso, Point Prevalence Survey 2023 of healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial use in Swiss acute care hospitals; Swissnoso, Second national point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in Swiss acute care hospitals (2022)
Postoperative wound infections
After surgery, undesirable infections of the surgical site or wounds can occur. Such wound infections can vary in severity, but are always an undesirable complication that may lead to a longer hospital stay.
In Switzerland, wound infections following surgery are recorded by all hospitals for selected operations as part of the swissnoso national measurement program.
Key figure: post-operative wound infection rate (proportion of patients with post-operative wound infection per 100 patients)
At the USB, we have been monitoring wound infections after gallbladder, colon and cardiac surgery for several years. The table shows the wound infection rate for the last three years.
As part of the swissnoso national measurement program, the results are also compared with all other hospitals. You can find the data here.
Source: Department of Hospital Hygiene, Clinic for Infectiology & Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital Basel, February 2024
1) The measurement of wound infections was suspended for several months in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which means that the number of reported procedures is in some cases lower than the actual number of procedures performed.
2) The infection rates for colon surgery are reported as a total figure for Clarunis - University Abdominal Center Basel (St. Claraspital and USB sites)
3) Cardiac surgery procedures up to mid-2021 were tracked for one year, now only for 90 days (change in Swissnoso's national measurement methodology) The results for cardiac surgery procedures in 2023 were not yet available at the time of publication of this quality report, as the follow-up period (90 days) had not yet elapsed for all procedures from 2023
Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections
Catheter-associated bloodstream infections are among the most common hospital-acquired infections. They occur when germs enter the bloodstream via the catheter. Such infections sometimes lead to longer hospital stays and higher treatment costs.
Key figure: rate of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (number of infections per 1,000 catheter days)
Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections have been recorded hospital-wide at the USB since 2023. The data is recorded in an innovative, semi-automated process based on routine data. This ensures a central database for the initiation and monitoring of preventive measures. The number of infections per 1,000 catheter days is standardized. A catheter day is counted if a patient has a central venous catheter for one day.
Source: USB, internal evaluations of all wards excluding: day clinics, emergency center, maternity ward, mother-child ward, intensive care unit and IMC (other recording system)
Decubitus
A pressure ulcer, also known colloquially as a bedsore, is "localized damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear forces. A pressure ulcer usually occurs over bony prominences, but can also be associated with medical devices or other objects" (according to EPUAP, 2019). Depending on its severity, a pressure ulcer can be divided into six categories, from category 1 (redness that cannot be pushed away) to category 4 (complete tissue loss) as well as the two categories "unclassifiable" and "unknown depth".
Pressure ulcers can be avoided in most cases. Pressure ulcer rates are therefore internationally recognized as an indicator of the quality of care. Pressure ulcer prevalence measures the frequency of pressure ulcers acquired in hospital and thus provides a basis for quality improvements within prevention.
The USB has a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program, which is managed by experts from the nursing/MTT department.
Key figure: Pressure ulcer prevalence rate (proportion of patients with pressure ulcers per 100 patients)
In 2023, 772 out of a total of 30,837 patients developed pressure ulcers. This corresponds to a pressure ulcer prevalence rate of 2.5%. If pressure ulcers are only considered from category 2 or higher, i.e. cases in which there is an actual partial loss of skin, the pressure ulcer prevalence rate is 1.1%. Pressure ulcer prevalence has been trending downwards since the start of continuous, year-round measurement at the USB.
Source: USB, internal evaluations of all wards excluding: day clinics, emergency center, maternity ward, mother-child ward, intensive care unit and IMC (other recording system)
Fall
By definition, a fall is "an event as a result of which a person unintentionally comes to rest on the ground or on a lower level".
We determine the prevalence of falls automatically on an ongoing basis at the USB and display it in a quality dashboard. Every fall event is documented by nursing staff in a fall log, discussed in the treatment team and evaluated with regard to necessary measures. In addition, the USB has a hospital-wide fall prevention programme (primarily for the inpatient setting), which is also committed to the continuous optimization of fall prevention activities.
Key figure: fall prevalence rate (proportion of patients with falls per 100 patients)
In 2023, 2.1% of patients fell during their hospital stay. This is below the previous year's rate.
Source: USB, internal evaluations of all wards excluding: day clinics, emergency center, maternity ward, mother-child ward, intensive care unit and IMC (other recording system)
Use of bladder catheters
Various medical reasons may require the use of a urinary catheter. However, in order to avoid undesirable side effects (e.g. urinary tract infections or injuries) as far as possible, it is important to use bladder catheters as little and as briefly as possible.
One indicator used to monitor the use of urinary catheters is the so-called urinary catheter utilization rate. The lower this rate is, the lower the use of urinary catheters (less frequent and/or shorter).
At the USB, the bladder catheter utilization rate is calculated and mapped automatically based on the nursing documentation. However, it should be noted that the use of urinary catheters cannot always be prevented and that there are areas in which urinary catheter use rates are necessarily high for medical reasons (e.g. in intensive care units or for urological diseases). The comparison of bladder catheter usage rates between hospitals is therefore only possible to a limited extent and is always intended for comparable specialties.
Key figure: Bladder catheter utilization rate (proportion of catheter days per 100 patient days)
In 2023, the average bladder catheter usage rate across all departments was 14.3%. In other words, this means that a patient who is hospitalized for ten days has a urinary catheter for an average of 1.4 days.
Source: USB, internal evaluations of all wards excluding: day clinics, emergency center, intensive care unit, IMC, neurosurgical monitoring unit
Treatment outcome from the patient's perspective (PROMs)
As part of our quality measurements, we place a special focus on the treatment outcome from the patient's perspective. You can find out more about the so-called PROMs - Patient Reported Outcome Measures here Link to PROMs section.
Patient opinion
Data on how patients rate the USB can be found here Link to section Patient opinion.