Business Briefing: St. Elizabeth’s makes an ‘A’ in patient safety

An independent hospital watchdog has awarded St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville an ‘A’ for overall patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group announced the metro-east hospital recorded 60 percent fewer patient falls and a 50 percent decrease in hospital acquired pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thromboembolisms as well as an 80 percent drop in urinary tract infections.

The hospital had recently implemented a new communications systems, Daily Performance Management, which allows hospital workers to work in real time with front line clinicians and identify potential risks for patient harm.

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Visa is buying sister company, Visa Europe, for more than $23 billion. The deal would consolidate all of Visa’s operations worldwide. Read more here.

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Visa’s announced acquisition of Visa Europe has been met with an initial 3 percent drop in trading on Wall Street, where overall, stocks, especially in the health care sector, are opening on a higher note on Monday. Learn more here.

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Visa Inc. has reported a 41 percent rise in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. The company cites lower legal expenses and higher payment processing volumes for the increase. Learn more here.

-Will Buss, BND business writer

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Business Briefing: St. Elizabeth’s makes an ‘A’ in patient safety."