Helping to achieve CQUIN antimicrobial targets
Posted in News
A common key performance indicator or CQUIN target for Trusts this financial year is to achieve at least a one per cent reduction in antimicrobial use against financial year 2013/14. See www.england.nhs.uk for FAQs and data collection forms.
On a national basis, it would appear that almost two-thirds of Trusts will miss this target. Consequently, Rx-info has added new reports (Usage > CQUIN) to Define and Refine to help Trusts hit this target and qualify for their incentive payments.
We would recommend that to benchmark your performance you should look at the Scatterplot for all antimicrobials.
If you are above the 0% growth line (the horizontal axis) then you are increasing your usage of antimicrobials, and so moving away from the target. If you are below the line then you are on target to achieve the incentive.
If you are on the right of the vertical axis then you are using more than the peer group average (on a prescribing rate basis measured by DDDs per occupied bed).
Those Trusts that use Refine can click on their Define data point and drill through to see which specific cost centres are driving this practice. This will provide a focused target for pharmacy to assist these locations in better managing their antimicrobial use and bringing the Trust towards their target.
If you don’t already use Refine please call or email us and we will be able to set a free trial for you.