To help address the national public health crisis of antibiotic overprescribing and misuse, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) causes some 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths annually, NQF issued a practical guide, The National Quality Partners Playbook: Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care, to help hospitals significantly reduce antibiotic misuse and overuse. In addition, NQF has endorsed a CDC measure, #2720, to help hospitals benchmark and track antibiotic use.
“This tool, which has received national attention, provides real-world examples and practical advice to help hospitals implement high-quality antibiotic stewardship programs that meet the needs of their specific communities,” said Kathleen Giblin, RN, NQF’s senior vice president of quality innovation.
The Playbook builds on the CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs, which recommends that all acute-care hospitals in the nation implement such programs. The Playbook is the result of the collaborative work of NQF’s National Quality Partners’ Antibiotic Stewardship Action Team.
View the Joint Commission’s prepublication standards for hospitals and nursing homes. Comment on CMS’ proposed rule through Aug. 15.
