The graphic shows how many patients received surgical care that follows the 9 nationally accepted criteria listed below. Patients from all over the country come to Vanderbilt for surgery, and we make every effort to offer each patient safe, world-class care.

There are 9 key factors that affect what is widely considered to be appropriate surgical care:

1. Patients given antibiotic less than one hour before surgery
   Infection after surgery is lowest when patients receive antibiotics to prevent infection within one hour before the skin is cut. This graphic factors in how often patients having surgery received an antibiotic within one hour before surgery.
2. Prescribing the proper antibiotics
   Different antibiotics are more effective than others, depending on the condition being treated and the type of surgery. This graphic factors in how often patients who had surgery were given the appropriate antibiotic.
3. Stopping antibiotics at the proper time
   Giving medicine that prevents infection for more than 24 hours after the end of surgery is not helpful unless there is a specific reason such as fever or other signs of infection. This graphic factors in how often patients' antibiotic was stopped within 24 hours after their surgery ended.
4. Managing patients' blood glucose levels after surgery
   High blood glucose is linked with illness and death following several medical and surgical conditions. If a postoperative patient's blood glucose is high, it can lead to infection or other complications. This graphic factors in how well providers monitor and control post-cardiac surgery patients' blood glucose.
5. Appropriate hair removal before surgery
   Hair removal with clippers or hair-removing creams or other products is considered appropriate. Shaving is considered inappropriate because it can cause abrasions that lead to infection. This graphic factors in how often providers follow the correct hair removal procedure.
6. Urinary catheter removal
   The longer a urinary catheter remains in the body, the higher the risk for urinary tract infection. This graphic factors in how many patients' urinary catheters are removed within 48 hours of surgery.
7. Keeping a normal body temperature during surgery
   If a surgical patient develops hypothermia from exposure to cold during or after surgery, he or she can be at risk for reduced wound healing and other complications. This graphic factors in how well Vanderbilt maintained normal body temperatures for surgical patients.
8. Using beta blocker drugs to manage blood pressure
   Research has shown that patients given beta blocker drugs to manage blood pressure before and after surgery are more likely to survive and less likely to develop certain complications. This graphic factors in how many surgical patients received this therapy.
9. Preventing dangerous blood clots
   Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), or bloot clots in the vein(s), is one of the most common complications after surgery. It can be fatal. This graphic factors in how often providers take action, often by prescribing anti-clotting drugs, to prevent this from happening after surgery.