Status epilepticus identification and seizure cessation

Measure Purpose: Reduce morbidity and mortality for patients in status epilepticus

The numerator: Patients in generalized convulsive status epilepticus (SE) rapidly* identified and treated with benzodiazepines

*See full specifications for additional details

is divided by

The denominator: Patients diagnosed with generalized convulsive status epilepticus

Exclusions are removed from the denominator for:

• Neonates
• Patient received benzodiazepines by emergency services prior to arrival at emergency department (ED) that resulted in SE resolving
• Patients with allergies or reaction to these types of drugs

Key Phrases

Key phrases you should document to meet the measure include:

• Patient rapidly treated with benzodiazepine
• Patient in status epilepticus was identified and treated with benzodiazepine
• Patient in SE was identified and treated with benzodiazepine

Measure Calculation Example

Dr. Fernandez had 15 patients present to the emergency department in status epilepticus and had 24 patients on his hospital service during the measurement year. Five of these patients were neonates, one had an allergy to benzodiazepine medication, and two had their seizures resolve prior to arrival at the ED due to receiving a benzodiazepine from emergency services. These eight patients are removed from the denominator.

Of the now 31 patients, 17 had their status epilepticus rapidly identified and had a benzodiazepine administered.

Quality of patient care = 17/(39-8). Dr. Fernandez has a score of 54% for this measure.