Children Who Received Systemic Corticosteroid Medication While Hospitalized for Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition causing airway obstruction. Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing. These symptoms are triggered as a result of the body’s reaction to environmental changes such as allergens or changes in temperature.

This measure describes the percentage of children with asthma who were given oral or IV steroid medications during their hospitalization. Oral and IV steroids reduce inflammation throughout the body, not just in the airways. Unfortunately, oral and IV steroids may cause serious side effects when used long-term. These medications are typically used for severe episodes or chronic severe asthma that cannot be controlled with other medications (i.e., inhaled or oral bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medications).

At SBUH, 96% of 48 eligible patients received systemic corticosteroid medication.

A high score is better than a low score.

	The SBUH 2009-2010 score is for the period October 2009 to September 2010.
	The New York State average score summarizes the average of health care organizations throughout New York State reporting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Currently, the New York State average scores have not been compiled
	The U.S. average score summarizes the average of health care organizations throughout the United States reporting to the CMS for the period October 2009 to September 2010.
	Top 10% score summarizes results from the best 10% of health care organizations that are members of the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC).

See our results over time

We are interested in your feedback and questions. Please send email to: sbuh_Quality@notes.cc.sunysb.edu to let us know if this is helpful, or if you need something you can't find here.