The Center for Medicare/Medicaid (Federal Government), The Joint Commission and the Hospital Quality Alliance evaluate/compare hospitals compliance with "Core Measures", which is evidence based expected patient care; the best care for you, and your family.

Core measures and their areas of evaluation include:

The heart attack clinical process indicators are:

• Aspirin given at hospital arrival & prescribed at discharge
• Beta Blocker given at hospital arrival & prescribed at discharge
• If indicated, enzyme inhibiting drug (ACEI/ARB) given
• If indicated, angioplasty within 120 min of arrival to the hospital
• Smoking cessation counseling

Heart Failure is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States.

• If indicated, enzyme inhibiting drug (ACEI/ARB)
• Smoking cessation counseling
• Testing that evaluates heart function
• Extensive discharge teaching

Pneumonia:

• Monitoring oxygen level
• Influenza screening and vaccination
• Blood cultures obtained prior to giving antibiotics
• Antibiotic selection and timing
• Smoking cessation

Surgical Care Improvement Project

• Antibiotic within 1 hour before surgery
• The appropriate antibiotic for the surgical procedure
• Stopping the antibiotic within 24 hours after surgery