Table 1.
Characteristics of 15 Participating Hospitals in the Veterans’ Affairs—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Practice–Based Research Network
| Characteristic | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| US Census region | |
| Midwest | 6 (40) |
| Northeast | 1 (7) |
| South | 5 (33) |
| West | 3 (20) |
| Hospital size | |
| ≥100 acute-care beds | 10 (67) |
| <100 acute-care beds | 5 (33) |
| VHA hospital complexity level a | |
| 1a | 10 (67) |
| 1b | 4 (26) |
| 1c | 1 (7) |
| Antibiotic stewardship pharmacist and physician champions | 15 (100) |
| Presence of clinical pathways and/or local antibiotic prescribing guidelines | 7 (47) |
a
The Veterans’ Health Administration classifies its medical facilities at the following levels of complexity: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2, or 3. A hospital’s complexity level is based on its patient population, clinical services, education and research. The most complex hospitals are level 1a, and the least complex are level 3.