title: Community-acquired pneumonia: process of care studies.
abstract: New insight has been gained into the relationship between the processes of care undertaken for patients with community-acquired pneumonia and the resulting outcomes. Better insight into the risks for a complicated course can increase the percentage of patients treated as outpatients. Studies have also suggested that both the promptness and the choice of antibiotic therapy can affect patient outcomes. Promptly switching to oral antibiotic therapy can often lead to a shorter length of hospital stay; however, concern has arisen regarding the effect of shorter lengths of stay on patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Qualidigm, Middletown, Connecticut, USA. metersky@nso.uchc.edu
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Metersky
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents