As part of recognition for our improvements to quality and safety, Austin Medical Center was recently named a recipient of the Total Benchmark Solution Best Acute Care Hospitals Award, based on quality measure data provided by U.S. healthcare organizations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the year 2005 time period.
The Best Acute Care Hospitals Award recognizes Austin Medical Center as a top quality performing hospital in the areas of heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia care. Austin Medical Center has been working on many initiatives to improve quality and safety processes between departments to achieve seamless patient care.
There were several areas in which we were graded. The overall rating was given based on how we scored in all measures, which are outlined below.
Heart Attack Care Quality
Measures
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) -
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor
blockers) are medicines used to treat heart attacks, heart failure, or a
decreased function of the heart.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Aspirin at Arrival - Aspirin can help keep blood clots from forming and
dissolve blood clots that can cause heart attacks.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Aspirin at Discharge - Taking aspirin may help prevent further heart
attacks.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Beta Blocker at Arrival - Beta blockers are a type of medicine used to
lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help
prevent a heart attack.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Beta Blocker at Discharge - Beta blockers are a type of medicine used to
lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help
prevent a heart attack.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given PCI Within 120 Minutes Of Arrival - The procedures called Percutaneous
Coronary Interventions (PCI) are among those that are the most effective for
opening blocked blood vessels that cause heart attacks. Doctors may perform PCI,
or give medicine to open the blockage, and in some cases, may do both.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling - Smoking is linked to heart attacks.
Quitting may help prevent another heart attack.
- Percent of Heart Attack Patients
Given Thrombolytic Medication Within 30 Minutes Of Arrival - Blood clots can
cause heart attacks. Doctors may give this medicine, or perform a procedure to
open the blockage, and in some cases, may do both.
Heart Failure Care Quality
Measures
- Percent of Heart Failure
Patients Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction
(LVSD) - ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin
receptor blockers) are medicines used to treat heart attacks, heart failure, or
a decreased function of the heart.
- Percent of Heart Failure
Patients Given an Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic (LVS) Function - An
evaluation of the LVS function checks how the left chamber of the heart is
pumping.
- Percent of Heart Failure
Patients Given Discharge Instructions - The staff at the hospital should provide
you with information to help you manage your heart failure symptoms when you are
discharged.
- Percent of Heart Failure
Patients Given Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling - Smoking is linked to heart
failure. Quitting may help improve your condition.
Pneumonia Care Quality
Measures
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Assessed and Given Influenza Vaccination - An influenza shot can help prevent
Influenza in the future, even for patients who have been hospitalized for
pneumonia.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Assessed and Given Pneumococcal Vaccination - pneumonia (pneumococcal) shot can
help prevent pneumonia in the future, even for patients who have been
hospitalized for pneumonia.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Given Initial Antibiotic(s) within 4 Hours after Arrival - Timely use of
antibiotics can improve the treatment of pneumonia caused by bacteria.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Given Oxygenation Assessment - Having enough oxygen in your blood is important
to your health.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Given Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling - Smoking is linked to pneumonia.
Quitting may help prevent you from getting pneumonia again.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Given the Most Appropriate Initial Antibiotic(s) - Antibiotics are medicines
that treat infection, and each one is different. Hospitals should choose the
antibiotics that best treat the infection type for each pneumonia
patient.
- Percent of Pneumonia Patients
Whose Initial Emergency Room Blood Culture Was Performed Prior To The
Administration Of The First Hospital Dose Of Antibiotics - A blood culture tells
what kind of medicine will work best to treat your pneumonia.
