Process

NQF #0496 calculates the median time from emergency department arrival to time of departure from the emergency room for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). The measure is calculated using chart-abstracted data, on a rolling quarterly basis, and is publically reported in aggregate for one calendar year. The measure has been publically reported since 2013 as part of the ED Throughput measure set of the CMS’ Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (HOQR) Program.

Median time from emergency department arrival to administration of fibrinolytic therapy in ED patients with ST-segment elevation or left bundle branch block (LBBB) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) performed closest to ED arrival and prior to transfer.

This measure calculates the median time from emergency department arrival to time of transfer to another facility for acute coronary intervention.

The three components of this measure assess different facets of providing medical assistance with smoking and tobacco use cessation:

Advising Smokers and Tobacco Users to Quit: A rolling average represents the percentage of patients 18 years of age and older who were current smokers or tobacco users and who received advice to quit during the measurement year.

This measure assesses whether patients discharged from an inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) with major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder filled a prescription for evidence-based medication within 2 days prior to discharge and 30 days post-discharge. This measure evaluates admissions over a two-year period.

Percentage of patients transferred to another HEALTHCARE FACILITY whose medical record documentation indicated that medication information was communicated to the receiving FACILITY within 60 minutes of departure

The percentage of patients 5-64 years of age during the measurement year who were identified as having persistent asthma and were dispensed appropriate medications that they remained on during the treatment period. Two rates are reported.
1. The percentage of patients who remained on an asthma controller medication for at least 50% of their treatment period.
2. The percentage of patients who remained on an asthma controller medication for at least 75% of their treatment period.

Percentage of patient-months for which medication reconciliation* was performed and documented by an eligible professional.**

Percentage of patients for whom a designated PTA medication list was generated by referencing one or more external sources of PTA medications and for which all PTA medications have a documented reconciliation action by the end of Day 2 of the hospitalization.

The percentage of discharges from January 1–December 1 of the measurement year for patients 18 years of age and older for whom medications were reconciled the date of discharge through 30 days after discharge (31 days total).