• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). ACHS clinical indicator users' manual 2008. ULTIMO NSW: Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS); 2007 Dec. 776 p.

Does not apply to this measure

This measure is used to assess the percentage of patients receiving neuraxial blockade as part of their acute pain management who develop an epidural abscess or epidural haematoma following neuraxial blockade, during the time period under study.

Continuous collection of information regarding 'major adverse events' may allow more accurate estimation of prevalence for rare events over time.

Management of acute pain; neuraxial blockade; epidural abscess; epidural haematoma

Total number of patients receiving neuraxial blockade as part of their acute pain management, during the time period under study

Total number of patients developing an epidural abscess, or epidural haematoma following neuraxial blockade, during the time period under study

• A clinical practice guideline or other peer-reviewed synthesis of the clinical evidence
• A formal consensus procedure involving experts in relevant clinical, methodological, and organizational sciences

Use of this measure to improve performance

• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). Australian clinical indicator report 1998-2006. Determining the potential to improve quality of care: 8th edition. ULTIMO NSW: Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS); 2007. 564 p.

Current routine use

Internal quality improvement

Hospitals

Physicians

Single Health Care Delivery Organizations

Unspecified

Either male or female

Unspecified

Unspecified

Unspecified

Unspecified

Unspecified

Unspecified

Getting Better

Effectiveness
Safety

Users of care only

Patients receiving neuraxial blockade as part of their acute pain management, during the time period under study

Patients associated with provider

Inclusions
Total number of patients receiving neuraxial blockade as part of their acute pain management, during the time period under study

Exclusions
Unspecified

All cases in the denominator are equally eligible to appear in the numerator

Therapeutic Intervention

Time window brackets index event

Inclusions
Total number of patients developing an epidural abscess, or epidural haematoma following neuraxial blockade, during the time period under study

Exclusions
Unspecified

The measure results are somewhat or substantially under the control of the health care professionals, organizations and/or policymakers to whom the measure applies.

Episode of care

Administrative data
Medical record

Not Individual Case

Adverse Outcome

Unspecified

Rate

Better quality is associated with a lower score

Unspecified

External comparison at a point in time
External comparison of time trends
Internal time comparison

Unspecified

Indicator area 5: management of acute pain CI 5.10.

Australian Council on Healthcare Standards

Funding is direct Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) funding sourced through our membership. ACHS does not receive external funding from the government or other sources.

Our terms of reference dictate the composition of the working parties that develop our indicators and include the following:

• Two Clinicians -- nominated by the relevant specialty college/association/society, one nominated to be the chair of the working party
• Private Hospital Representative -- nominated by the Australian Private Hospital Association
• Consumer Representative -- nominated by the Consumer Health Forum of Australia
• Coding Representative -- nominated by the National Centre for Clinical classification on Health
• Quality Health New Zealand, nominated by QHNZ (if applicable)
• Epidemiological/Clinical Research Representative, Director of Health Services Research Group, University of Newcastle
• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Representatives -- Clinical Director, Coordinator, Administrative Assistant
• Other Expert Stakeholders, as required

None

Measure was not adapted from another source.

1996 Sep

2007 Dec

This is the current release of the measure.

• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). ACHS clinical indicator users' manual 2008. ULTIMO NSW: Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS); 2007 Dec. 776 p.

This NQMC summary was completed by ECRI Institute on April 4, 2008.

This NQMC summary is based on the original measure, which is subject to the measure developer's copyright restrictions. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).