Pneumococcal screening and/or vaccinationWhat It Means
The percentage of hospital patients (65 years or older) with pneumonia who are screened for and/or given pneumococcal vaccination (Pneumovax) when needed.
Why It Is Important
We know that people 65 or older should be given a pneumonia vaccination. Any hospitalization is an excellent opportunity to ask them if they've been vaccinated and give them the vaccination if they haven't.
Patients with pneumonia, age 65 and older, who were screened for pneumococcal vaccine status and were vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated.
Pneumonia patients 18 years of age and older.
Denominator Excluded Populations
- Patients receiving Comfort Measures Only
- Patients who expired in the hospital
- Patients who left against medical advice (AMA)
- Patients who were discharged to hospice care
- Patients who were transferred to another short term general hospital for inpatient care
- Patients who were discharged to a federal hospital
- Patients less than 65 years of age
- Patients who had no chest x-ray or CT scan that indicated abnormal findings within 24 hours prior to hospital arrival or anytime during this hospitalization
- Patients with Cystic Fibrosis (Appendix A, Table 3.4)
- Patients involved in clinical trials
- Patients who have a Length of Stay >120 days