• Specifications manual for national hospital inpatient quality measures, version 2.5b. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), The Joint Commission; 2008 Oct. various p.

Does not apply to this measure

This measure is used to assess the percent of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients without beta-blocker contraindications who are prescribed a beta-blocker at hospital discharge.

The use of beta-blockers for patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can reduce mortality and morbidity. Studies have demonstrated that the use of beta-blockers is associated with about a 20% reduction in this risk, and there is evidence of effectiveness in broad populations of patients with AMI. National guidelines strongly recommend long-term beta-blocker therapy for the secondary prevention of subsequent cardiovascular events in patients discharged after AMI. Despite these recommendations, beta-blockers remain underutilized in eligible older patients discharged after AMI.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI); beta-blockers

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients without beta-blocker contraindications (see the related "Denominator Inclusions/Exclusions" field in the Complete Summary)

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who are prescribed a beta-blocker at hospital discharge

Administrative data
Medical record

AMI-5: beta-blocker prescribed at discharge.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Joint Commission, The

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services/The Joint Commission

All external funding for measure development has been received and used in full compliance with The Joint Commission's Corporate Sponsorship policies, which are available upon written request to The Joint Commission.

Expert panel members have made full disclosure of relevant financial and conflict of interest information in accordance with the Joint Commission's Conflict of Interest policies, copies of which are available upon written request to The Joint Commission.

National Quality Forum

Hospital Compare
Hospital Quality Alliance
National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)
National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)

Measure was not adapted from another source.

2000 Aug

2008 Oct

This is the current release of the measure.

This measure updates a previous version: Specifications manual for national hospital quality measures, version 2.3b. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), The Joint Commission; 2007 Oct. various p.

• Specifications manual for national hospital inpatient quality measures, version 2.5b. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), The Joint Commission; 2008 Oct. various p.

This NQMC summary was completed by ECRI on February 7, 2003. The information was verified by the measure developer on February 12, 2003. This NQMC summary was updated by ECRI on October 6, 2005 and on April 16, 2007. The information was verified by the measure developer on July 24, 2007. This NQMC summary was updated again by ECRI Institute on October 26, 2007. The Joint Commission informed NQMC that this measure was updated on August 13, 2008 and provided an updated version of the NQMC summary. This NQMC summary was updated accordingly by ECRI Institute on November 11, 2008. The information was verified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Janaury 22, 2009.

The Specifications Manual for National Hospital Inpatient Quality Measures [Version 2.5b, October, 2008] is the collaborative work of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission. The Specifications Manual is periodically updated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission. Users of the Specifications Manual for National Hospital Inpatient Quality Measures should periodically verify that the most up-to-date version is being utilized.