Pneumonia Patients Given Initial Antibiotic(s) within Six Hours after Arrival

What Does This Measure?

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

Why Is This Important?

Antibiotics treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. Antibiotic treatment within four hours of hospital admission can cure bacterial pneumonia and reduce the possibility of complications.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance?

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

• Evidence-based medicine
• Standardized order sets
• Patient rounding
• Computerized physician order entry (CPOE)
• Electronic medical records (EMR)
• Six Sigma and DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control process) methodologies
• Nursing and physician education
• Pneumonia-specific patient education information
• Patient safety and clinical quality committees
• Patient advocacy and support groups

More Information

• See more pneumonia quality measures
• See all performance measures
• Compare Duke to other North Carolina hospitals at NC Hospital Quality Report
• Compare Duke to regional and national hospitals at Hospital Quality Alliance's Hospital Compare