Clinical services clinical quality indicators
Find out how we are doing in clinical services using the links below. More information on how we choose our indicators can be found by clicking on the link on the right hand side.
C difficile infection
The C difficile infection clinical quality indicator measures the rate of C difficile apportioned infections, for patients aged 2 or over, on admission per 100,000 bed days.
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Rationale
C difficile infection is associated with patient harm, including in some cases death. A low C difficile rate is also indicative of good overall infection control practices and good antibiotic usage.
Our objectives
Our basic goal is to achieve an annual maximum volume of C difficile infections which is equal to or below the trajectory set for us by the Strategic Health Authority. Our measure of excellence is to be in the top 10% of peer trusts.
Hospital mortality
The hospital standardised mortality rate (HSMR) clinical quality indicator is a measure of whether death rates are higher or lower than expected across a range of 56 diagnoses which are responsible for 80 percent of hospital mortality. The rate is expressed as a ratio of the actual volume of deaths relative to the expected volume. Lower is better.
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Rationale
A higher than expected HSMR over a long period of time could be indicative of sub optimal clinical care.
Our objectives
Our basic goal is to achieve an HSMR lower than 100, indicating a lower than expected mortality risk. Our measure of excellence is for our HSMR rate to be in the top 10% of English acute trusts by rank. We are currently meeting both our basic goal and our measure of excellence.
Current performance
The HSMR is based around an index of 100. Our hospital standardised mortality ratio remains one of the lowest in England.
Source: Dr Foster (data period: April - December 2013)
MRSA infection
The MRSA infection clinical quality indicator measures the number of acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias per 100,000 bed days. Lower is better.
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Rationale
MRSA bacteraemia is associated with patient harm, including in some cases death. A low MRSA rate is also indicative of good overall infection control practices.
Our objectives
Our basic goal is to achieve an annual maximum volume of MRSA bacteraemias which is equal to or below the target set for us by the Strategic Health Authority. Our measure of excellence is an MRSA rate of nil.
Current performance
We have achieved our goal of excellence, of nil attributable cases of MRSA, from Jan 2013 to Apr 2014.