Giving Patients an Antibiotic
Within 1 Hour of Surgery

HealthONE Hospitals in Denver, Colorado

Timeframe: Januray 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 surgery patients who received antibiotic(s) to prevent infection one hour before the beginning of surgery.

Why Is This Important?

Patients sometimes develop infections after they undergo surgery. Those who receive a preventative antibiotic within the hour before their operation are less likely to develop an infection. Getting an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective.

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