Professionals

Pneumonia

Pneumonia and influenza cause substantial morbidity and mortality for Medicare patients. This project focuses on changing processes of care to improve outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. An additional objective is to increase rates of vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease.

Public Health Importance

Pneumonia and influenza are the seventh leading causes of death in the United States. Pneumonia accounts for nearly 600,000 Medicare patient hospitalizations and more than 4.5 million inpatient days each year. In 1993 more than $3.5 billion was spent on inpatient care of Medicare patients with pneumonia. Pneumonia is also the principal reason for more than 500,000 emergency department visits by Medicare patients each year. The incidence of pneumonia increases with age, and more than 90 percent of deaths due to this condition are in the population aged 65 and older.

Main Objective

To decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired pneumonia in Medicare beneficiaries.

Quality Indicators

• Increase the number of inpatients who receive timely antibiotic administration.
• Increase the use of initial antibiotic therapy consistent with current guidelines.
• Increase the collection of blood cultures during the first 24 hours.
• Increase the collection of blood cultures prior to the initial antibiotic dose.
• Increase the number of inpatients screened for influenza and pneumococcal immunization status and vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated.
• Decrease the number of smokers by providing smoking cessation advice/counseling.
• Increase the collection of arterial oxygenation assessment during the first 24 hours.
• Increase statewide immunization rates for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. 

Tools & Resources

American Academy of Family Physicians 
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Physicians 
American Health Care Association 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 
American Medical Association
American Medical Directors Association 
American Geriatrics Society 
American Osteopathic Association 
American Public Health Association
American Pharmaceutical Association
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Association of Schools of Public Health
American Lung Association
American Thoracic Society
Hospital Quality Initiative
MedQIC Pneumonia