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Clinical Quality Measure NQF #0084 "Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation"
CMS suggests that cardiologists participating in the EHR Incentive Program not select 'Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation' as one of their clinical quality measures (CQMs) for meaningful use, as this metric is specific to warfarin and will NOT include patients appropriately placed on dabigatran or rivoroxaban, potentially diluting the cardiologists attainment of this quality parameter.
Colorado Chapter Plays Critical Role in Stunning Improvements
in D2B Times in the U.S.
Cooperation and coordination between American College of Cardiology physicians and cardiovascular teams are reaping benefits for Colorado patients, in a study released recently. For patients suffering heart attacks, the faster they reach the hospital door, and undergo balloon opening of the artery, the better the results.
In this study, median door-to-balloon (D2B) times for heart attack patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (opening of blocked artery) following an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) have declined from 94 minutes in 2005 to 64 minutes in 2010, a study published on August 22 in Circulation reports. The improvements represent a more than 30 percent decline in D2B times. The percent of patients with D2B times less than 90 minutes increased from 44.2 percent to 91.4 percent from 2005 to 2010, as did the percent of patients with D2B times less than 75 minutes (23.3 percent to 70.4 percent). The study uses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data from Jan. 1, 2005, to Sept. 30, 2010.
Click here for the whole story.
H2H: Hospital to Home
The Hospital to Home (H2H) is a national campaign to reduce preventable readmissions for patients recently hospitalized with a cardiovascular condition, the leading cause of hospitalization in the United States. The American College of Cardiology and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, organizations with a successful record of improving care, are combining forces and developing partnerships to form a campaign to improve the transition of patients from inpatient to outpatient status. About one in five patients hospitalized with cardiovascular conditions are readmitted within 30 days and studies suggest that many of these readmissions can be prevented.
Click here for more about this program.
D2B Information
ACC recently asked participating hospitals to identify the single most challenging problem they face in reducing door-to-balloon times. Of the 522 participating hospitals that responded, ED activation of the the cath lab was identified by the greatest number of you. If you are struggling to empower your ED physicians to activate the cath lab, have you considered the following?
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Ensuring that ED physicians are included in and valued on your D2B team
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Presenting to your administration and/or cardiologists the evidence supporting ED activation and the relationship to reduced D2B times
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Reviewing the D2B Webinar on ED Activation of the Cath Lab
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Contacting a D2B mentor hospital that can provide additional ideas on ED activation implementation
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Conducting refresher training on ECG reads so ED physicians maintain their skills and demonstrate their effectiveness
If you have successfully instituted ED activation of the cath lab in your hospital but struggle with a different D2B strategy, remember to review the D2B webinar and mentor network for your strategy. The next great idea may be waiting for you and your hospital.
Click here to access more information on D2B.
Click here to access the Quality section of ACC National's website.
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