Pneumonia

Pneumonia is caused by a viral or bacterial infection that fills your lungs with mucus and lowers the oxygen level in your blood.

Quality Measures

Pneumococcal Status Assessed and Vaccine Given if Indicated

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible patients aged 65 and older who are screened to see if they have received the pneumococcal vaccine or were asked if they wished to be vaccinated.

Why is this important? The pneumococcal vaccine may help you prevent or lower the risk of complications of pneumonia caused by bacteria. It may also prevent future infections. People aged 65 and older are at greater risk for pneumonia according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Blood Culture was Performed Prior to Administration of First Dose of Antibiotics while in the Emergency Department

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible pneumonia patients who were admitted through the Emergency Department and had a blood culture performed before antibiotics were given.

Why is this important? A blood culture is a test that helps identify which bacteria may have caused the pneumonia and which antibiotic should be prescribed. Although blood cultures are not always needed, early screening for different types of bacteria in the blood stream while the patient is still in the Emergency Department is important when ordering antibiotics.

Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible pneumonia patients who have smoked within the past year and are given smoking cessation advice and counseling.

Why is this important? Smoking is linked to pneumonia. Quitting may help prevent getting pneumonia again. Smoking also causes your arteries to thicken and your blood vessels to narrow which increases your risk for developing blood clots and heart disease that can result in a heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Smoking is linked to lung disease and cancer and can cause premature death.

Initial Antibiotic(s) within 6 Hours after Arrival

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible pneumonia patients who receive an antibiotic within 6 hours of hospital arrival.

Why is this important? Receiving an antibiotic within 6 hours after arrival at the hospital has been shown to be effective in treating community-acquired pneumonia.

Appropriate Initial Antibiotic Use in Non-Intensive Care Patients

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were not in intensive care units and who received the appropriate antibiotic within 24 hours of arrival.

Why is this important? Receiving an antibiotic within 24 hours after arrival at the hospital has been shown to be effective for treating community-acquired pneumonia.

Appropriate Initial Antibiotic Use in Intensive Care (ICU) Patients

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible intensive care unit patients, with community-acquired pneumonia that were given the appropriate antibiotic within 24 hours of arrival.

Why is this important? Receiving an antibiotic within 24 hours after arrival at the hospital has been shown to be effective for treating community-acquired pneumonia.

Influenza Vaccination Status Screened and Given

What does this mean? This measures the percentage of eligible patients aged 50 and older who are screened to see if they have received the current influenza vaccine (October through March) or were asked if they wished to be vaccinated.

Why is this important? Flu vaccinations reduce the risk of influenza, a serious and sometimes deadly lung infection that can spread quickly in a community or facility. Since a flu vaccination is effective for one flu season, the period of time used to calculate this rate is the flu season (from October to March).