Pneumonia is an infection that fills the lungs with mucus. The Joint Commission and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services agree on specific measures performed by your hospital which can improve the outcomes of a person suffering from pneumonia. Not all measures may be right for you. Your hospital and/or physician will determine which treatments and medications are appropriate to improve your outcome.
Measure: Oxygen Assessment (Percent of pneumonia patients given oxygen assessment within 24 hours of hospital arrival) Lowered oxygen levels for pneumonia patients is a risk factor known to increase mortality. Oxygen assessment is used to determine the need for supplemental oxygen therapy, which can reduce this risk.
Measure: Pneumococcal Vaccination (Percent of pneumonia patients assessed and given the pneumococcal vaccination) Patients 65 and older should be given the pneumococcal vaccine unless otherwise indicated. The vaccine may prevent or reduce the risk of complications from pneumonia.
Measure: Blood Cultures performed in Emergency Department prior to initial antibiotic received in hospital (Percent of pneumonia patients with blood cultures performed in Emergency Department prior to initial antibiotic received in hospital) Blood cultures should be performed prior to antibiotics being administered in order to obtain the greatest amount of clinically useful information. Blood cultures can be used to identify the bacteria that may have caused the pneumonia and help the physician in selection of the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.
Measure: Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling (Percent of pneumonia patients given smoking cessation counseling) Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and susceptibility to pneumonia and chronic lung diseases such as emphysema. Stopping smoking may reduce a reoccurrence of pneumonia. Patients who receive smoking-cessation advice from their health care providers are more likely to quit.
Measure: Initial antibiotic within 4 hours of hospital arrival (Percent of patients receiving initial antibiotic within 4 hours of arrival) A direct link has been associated between timely antibiotic administration for pneumonia patients and their outcomes. Pneumonia patients receiving antibiotics within four hours of arrival have a lower length of stay and decreased mortality than those who do not.
Measure: Influenza Vaccination (Percent of patients assessed and given influenza vaccination) Flu shoots reduce the risk of influenza and influenza-related pneumonia. Pneumonia patients age 50 and older should get a flu shot during flu season as protection from lung infection.