Antibiotics Given within Six Hours

Percent of Pneumonia Patients Who Receive Antibiotics Within 6 Hours
of Arrival at the Hospital
April 2007 - March 2008

What the graph is saying

For this measure, higher percentages are better. The graph above shows that all HealthEast hospitals are above the Minnesota average.

You can compare all hospitals' performance at the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site. Its data will be slightly older than the data reflected on the HealthEast web site.

Why is this measure important?

Antibiotics are used to treat adults with pneumonia caused by bacteria. Early treatment with antibiotics can cure bacterial pneumonia and reduce the possibility of complications. This information shows the percent of patients who were given their first dose of antibiotics within 4 hours of arrival at the hospital. Patients who get pneumonia during their stay at the hospital are not counted in this measure.

Description above from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

* The "Top U.S. Hospitals" represent the top 10% of all hospitals reporting information to Hospital Compare.

Go to the next pneumonia measure.