What are the most recent Joint Commision/CMS standards for treatment of pneumonia?

This is a moving target. The pattern over the years has been that the Joint Commision/CMS derives a policy statement. Physicians complain that it doesn't reflect optimal evidence based care and the policy gets revised. So what does the most recent iteration say about the treatment of pneumonia?

In the ED, which pneumonia patients need blood cultures?

• those admitted to the ICU

In the ED, antibiotics for pneumonia should be administered by what time?

• within 6 hours of ED arrival

What antibiotic(s) should be given for empiric treatment of pneumonia?

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Source

"Pneumonia Core Measure Set." The Joint Commision. April 2008.