The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) is a national quality partnership of organizations interested in improving surgical care by significantly reducing surgical complications. Partners in SCIP believe that a meaningful reduction in surgical complications depends on surgeons, anesthesiologists, perioperative nurses, pharmacists, infection control professionals, and hospital executives working together to intensify their commitment to making surgical care improvement priority. The following graphs show how MUSC handled SCIP factors when treating patients compared to the national average, the state average and hospitals ranked in the top 10%. In some cases, the state and national averages were not reported. The numbers reported are for April through June 2009. In all cases, a higher score is better. Prophylactic Antibiotic Received Within 1 Hour Prior to Surgical Incision- Surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics within one hour prior to surgical incision. Patients who received vancomycin or a fluoroquinolone for prophylactic antibiotics should have the antibiotics administered within two hours prior to surgical incision. Due to the longer infusion time required for vancomycin or a fluoroquinolone, it is acceptable to start these antibiotics within two hours prior to incision time. * Top of page Prophylactic Antibiotic Selection for Surgical Patients- Surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics consistent with current guidelines (specific to each type of surgical procedure). * Top of page Prophylactic Antibiotics Discontinued Within 24 Hours After Surgery End Time-Surgical patients whose prophylactic antibiotics were discontinued within 24 hours after surgery end time. * Top of page
VTE Ordered Timely 
Surgery patients with recommended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis ordered anytime from hospital arrival to 48 hours after Surgery End Time. There are over 30 million surgeries performed in the United States each year. Despite the evidence that VTE is one of the most common postoperative complications and prophylaxis is the most effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality, it is often underused. The frequency of venous thromboembolism (VTE), that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is related to the type and duration of surgery, patient risk factors, duration and extent of postoperative immobilization, and use or nonuse of prophylaxis. * Top of page 
Surgery patients who received appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis within 24 hours prior to Surgical Incision Time to 24 hours after Surgery End Time. There are over 30 million surgeries performed in the United States each year. Despite the evidence that VTE is one of the most common postoperative complications and prophylaxis is the most effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality, it is often underused. The frequency of venous thromboembolism (VTE), that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is related to the type and duration of surgery, patient risk factors, duration and extent of postoperative immobilization, and use or nonuse of prophylaxis. * *Source: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission "Specifications Manual for National Hospital Quality Measures." Top of page | 
