Initial Antibiotic Received Within 6 hours of Arriving at a HealthONE Hospital

Timeframe: January 2011 through March 2011
(Most Recent Data Available)

Timeframe: October 2009 through September 2010
(Yearly National and State Comparisons)

What Does This Measure?

The percentage of pneumonia patients who received their first dose of antibiotics within six hours of arrival at the hospital. Patients who contract pneumonia during their hospital stay are not counted in this measure.

Why Is This Important?

Antibiotics treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. The sooner antibiotics are given, the faster the patient’s recovery. When antibiotics are given within 6 hours, it also reduces the potential for complications.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance?

HealthONE hospitals have implemented several initiatives to improve our performance on this measure. These include:

• Electronic medication records
• Evidence-based medicine
• Nurse and physician training
• Patient safety and quality committee