Pneumonia I and Pneumonia II Projects

The need for timely and efficient treatment is assuming even greater significance, with pneumonia discharges increasing from 5,862 in 1992 to 7,870 in 1994. These two projects, involving a total of 13 hospitals, evaluated the timeliness of antibiotic administration for pneumonia patients. Baseline data revealed opportunities for improving process of care at all hospitals. After implementation of improvement plans, the majority of hospitals increased the percentage of patients receiving antibiotics within four hours of admission. This evaluation of the antibiotic delivery system can also be adapted to other diagnoses and medications.