Why did IHI choose the number 5 million as the target for harm reduction?
We chose the number 5 million because it sets an extremely ambitious goal for participating hospitals and because, most importantly, we believe participating hospitals can achieve this goal. Based on the pioneering work of leading hospitals and estimates of the amount of harm that facilities can avoid when new practices are introduced, we know hospitals will have to improve their current processes at an unprecedented rate to reach our goal, but patients and families deserve no less. IHI also encourages hospitals to identify new interventions — a in addition to those already offered — as vehicles to propel all Campaign participants toward this aim more rapidly.