News: 2025 U.S. patients 30% more likely to survive than 2019 patients, report suggests
United States’ hospitals continued to improve upon key patient safety measures in 2025, according to an American Hospital Association (AHA) report.
The report, conducted in partnership with Vizient, examined data on more than 1,300 U.S. hospitals from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2025. Of those examined, 16% were comprehensive academic medical centers, 21% were specialized complex care medical centers, 23% were complex care medical centers, and 41% were community hospitals.
According to the AHA report:
- Hospitalized patients in Q2 2025 were on average nearly 30% more likely to survive than expected given the severity of their illnesses compared to Q4 2019.
- The AHA projects that hospitals’ efforts to improve safety caused more than 300,000 Americans hospitalized from April 2024 through March 2025 to survive episodes of care they wouldn’t have in 2019.
- Hospitals cared for more patients in Q2 2025 compared to Q4 2019. These patients also had more complex and severe conditions. Specifically, volume increased by 4% and case mix index increased by 5% during this period.
“Keeping patients safe is the top priority of America’s hospitals and health systems,” said AHA Chief Physician Executive and Senior Vice President Chris DeRienzo, M.D. “The latest findings show that hospital teams continue to innovate and develop programs and strategies that are improving care and outcomes for the patients and communities they serve.”
Editor’s note: To read the AHA summary, click here. To read the AHA report, click here. To read the AHA press release, click here.