Should management of pneumonia be an indicator of quality of care?

Many regulatory bodies and payers measure the quality of care provided to patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Some pneumonia quality measures were not based on high-level evidence, and there is also concern that public reporting of performance could drive excessive use of diagnostic testing and antibiotic treatment. There have been significant increases in the performance rate of several process of care recommended for patients hospitalized with pneumonia, accompanied by a decrease in 30-day mortality. To maximize the potential for improved patient outcomes, physicians and regulators must remain vigilant to detect unintended negative consequences related to performance measurement.