Blood Cultures in the ER Before Antibiotics

Percent of Pneumonia Patients Who Have Blood Cultures
Taken in the ER Before Antibiotics
April 2007 - March 2008

What the graph is saying

For this measure, higher percentages are better. The graph above shows that St. John's is consistent with the Minnesota average. HealthEast, St. Joseph's and Woodwinds are below 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?

Different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia. A blood culture is a test that can help your health care provider identify which bacteria may have caused your pneumonia, and which antibiotic should be prescribed. A blood culture is not always needed, but for patients who are first seen in the hospital emergency department, it is important for the accuracy of the test that blood culture be conducted before any antibiotics are started. It is also important to start antibiotics as soon as possible.

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.