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Heart Attack Patients Given Beta Blocker at Arrival

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InstitutionRating
U.S. Average189%
N.C. Average291%
Top Hospitals3100%
Duke Raleigh Hospital97%
Duke University Hospital100%
Durham Regional Hospital90%

The rates displayed in this graph are for discharges January 2007 through December 2007. Source: hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
(1) The U.S. average includes all reporting hospitals in the United States.
(2) The N.C. average includes all reporting hospitals in the state of North Carolina.
(3) "Top Hospitals" represent the top 10% of hospitals nationwide. These hospitals achieved 100% on this measure.

What Does This Measure?

The percentage of eligible heart attack patients who received beta blockers within 24 hours of their arrival at the hospital.

Why Is This Important?

Beta blockers are a type of medicine that physicians prescribe to lower blood pressure, treat angina (chest pain) and heart failure, and help prevent heart attacks.

They lessen the heart’s workload by reducing the force with which the heart pumps blood. Most heart attack patients should receive a beta blocker within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance?

Duke has enacted several initiatives to improve our performance. These include:

More Information

About This Page

Published: Mar. 17, 2008
Updated: June 19, 2008
URL: http://www.dukehealth.org/AboutDuke/quality/performance_measures/heart_attack/beta_blocker_arrival