Improvements we are focusing on currently are:
- Assuring that a blood test (culture) for bacteria associated with pneumonia is performed in the Emergency Room.
- Evaluation of our process for pneumovax and influenza vaccine screening and administration.
CORE MEASURES:
Pneumonia (PN) Treatment
Pneumococcal vaccination status: A pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine can help prevent pneumonia in the future, even for patients who have been hospitalized for pneumonia.
Blood culture should be taken within 24 hours of arrival for patients in ICU
A blood culture tells what kind of medicine will work best to treat your pneumonia.
Blood culture before first antibiotic received
A blood culture tells what kind of medicine will work best to treat your pneumonia.
Smoking cessation advice/counseling
Smoking is linked to pneumonia. Quitting may help prevent you from getting pneumonia again.
Initial antibiotic received within 6 hours of arrival to ER
Timely use of antibiotics can improve the treatment of pneumonia caused by bacteria.
Appropriate initial antibiotic selection
Antibiotics are medicines that treat infection. Hospitals should choose the antibiotics that best treat the infection type for each pneumonia patient. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published evidenced based guidelines for selection of antibiotics.
Influenza Vaccination
Patients at risk for pneumonia should receive this vaccine before discharge.