Scripps Green Hospital

Surgery Measures June 2011 to July 2012

Note: Data pulled from Midas+ information system. “CA Average” represents the most recent benchmark available on the CMS Hospital Compare website.

Explanation of Measures

Prophylactic antibiotic received within one hour prior to surgical incision
Giving antibiotics before surgery helps reduce the possibility of infections.

Prophylactic antibiotic selection for surgical patients
Picking the most appropriate antibiotic for the patient helps reduce the possibility of infections.

Prophylactic antibiotics discontinued within 24 hours after surgery end time (48 hours for cardiac patients)
In most cases, antibiotic provided in the first 24 hours after surgery is most effective in preventing surgical site infections.

Cardiac surgery patients with controlled 6 a.m. postoperative serum glucose
Keeping glucose levels in the normal range helps reduce the possibility of infections.

Surgery patients with appropriate hair removal
Removing hair with clippers instead of a razor results in fewer breaks in the skin and helps reduce the possibility of infections.

Surgical care beta blocker during perioperative period
Percent of surgery patients who were taking heart drugs called beta blockers before coming to the hospital, who were kept on the beta blockers during the period just before and after their surgery. For these patients, staying on beta blockers before and after surgery makes it less likely that they will have heart problems.

Surgery patients with recommended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis ordered
Giving appropriate and timely VTE prophylaxis greatly reduces the incidence of blood clots.

Surgery patients who received appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis within 24 hours prior to surgery to 24 hours after surgery
Giving appropriate and timely VTE prophylaxis greatly reduces the incidence of blood clots.

These surgical care quality measures are endorsed by the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP), a national quality partnership of organizations interested in improving surgical care by significantly reducing surgical complications.