Background: The rapid deterioration observed in the condition of some hospitalized patients can be attributed to either disease progression or imperfect triage and level of care assignment after their admission. An early warning system (EWS) to identify patients at high risk of subsequent intrahospital death can be an effective tool for ensuring patient safety and quality of care and reducing avoidable harm and costs.
Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively validate a real-time EWS designed to predict patients at high risk of inpatient mortality during their hospital episodes.
Background: Hyperglycemia has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and may influence outcomes after tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). We sought to analyze the association of acute and chronic hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes in tPA-treated patients.
Methods And Results: We identified 58 265 AIS patients from 1408 sites who received tPA from 2009 to 2013 in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke.
An analysis of outcomes, quality, and survey data was carried out to evaluate the impact of surgical multidisciplinary rounds (SMDR) at a community teaching hospital. Surgical inpatients were reviewed over a 4-year period. Real-time changes to clinical care, documentation, and programs were enacted during the rounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) is suboptimal. Our goal was to determine whether the performance achievement award program for Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) was associated with global and sustained adherence to evidence-based guidelines for acute myocardial infarction.
Methods: Adherence to evidence-based guidelines was assessed in 170,061 hospitalized acute myocardial infarction patients from 418 US hospitals participating in GWTG-CAD from 2000 to 2008.
Background And Purpose: Physician prescribing patterns change slowly despite published randomized trials and consensus guidelines. We measure the effect of Management of Atherothrombosis With Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients (MATCH) trial on discharge prescribing patterns for patients with stroke and those with transient ischemic attack in the Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke Program.
Methods: We analyzed discharge prescribing patterns of antithrombotic medications for patients admitted with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack at hospitals participating in GWTG-Stroke between October 2002 to January 2006.
Background: Significant disparities have been reported in the application of evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women and the elderly. We hypothesized that participation in a quality-improvement program could improve care for all patients and thus narrow treatment gaps over time.
Methods And Results: Treatment of 237 225 patients hospitalized with CAD was evaluated in the Get With the Guidelines-CAD program from 2002 to 2007.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Berkshire Health System Cardiovascular Health Risk Reduction Program.
Methods: A within-group study design was conducted. Analyses were based on 502 employees who completed an initial and follow-up personal health risk assessment.
Background: Recent initiatives have focused on reducing door-to-balloon (DTB) times among patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, DTB time is only one of several important AMI care processes. It is unclear whether quality efforts targeted to a single process will facilitate concomitant improvement in other quality measures and outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Our purpose was to determine factors independently associated with cardiac rehabilitation referral, which are currently not well described at a national level.
Background: Substantial numbers of eligible patients are not referred to cardiac rehabilitation at hospital discharge despite proven reductions in mortality and national guideline recommendations.
Methods: We used data from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program, analyzing 72,817 patients discharged alive after a myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery between January 2000 and September 2007 from 156 hospitals.
Background: Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for treatment of stroke or transient ischemic attack is suboptimal. We sought to establish whether participation in Get With the Guidelines-Stroke was associated with improvements in adherence.
Methods And Results: This prospective, nonrandomized, national quality improvement program measured adherence to guideline recommendations in 322 847 hospitalized patients discharged with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.
Background: Both heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly prevalent conditions that often coexist; however, the quality of care received by hospitalized patients with both is not known.
Methods: The Get With the Guidelines - HF registry and performance improvement program prospectively collects data on patients hospitalized with HF. Performance measures to improve treatment of patients with HF and inhospital mortality were examined by kidney function based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) categorized as normal (GFR > or = 90), mild (60 < or = GFR < 90), moderate (30 < or = GFR < 60), severe (15 < or = GFR < 30), and kidney failure (GFR < 15 or dialysis).
Introduction: Hospitals throughout the United States face the challenge of developing implementation systems able to sustain improved clinical care over years. The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines (GWTGs) program helps hospitals address this challenge with a comprehensive approach to quality improvement for patients with CAD, heart failure and stroke. The Department of Medicine at Berkshire Medical Center, a 300-bed community teaching hospital, developed a clinical care improvement implementation system called multidisciplinary rounds (MDR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdherence to evidence-based interventions for hospitalized cardiovascular disease patients is not optimal. This study assesses the impact of a national quality improvement program on adherence to guidelines in these patients. Data from 92 hospitals from across the United States participating in the Get With The Guidelines program for at least 1 year for 11 acute and secondary prevention measures from a preintervention baseline period and the subsequent 4 quarters of a quality improvement intervention were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough evidence suggests that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred reperfusion strategy in the majority of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), only a minority of patients with STEMI are treated with primary PCI, and of those, only a minority receive the treatment within the recommended 90 minutes after entry into the medical system. Market research conducted by the American Heart Association revealed that those involved in the care of patients with STEMI recognize the multiple barriers that prevent the prompt delivery of primary PCI and agree that it is necessary to develop systems or centers of care that will allow STEMI patients to benefit from primary PCI. The American Heart Association will convene a group of stakeholders (representing the interests of patients, physicians, emergency medical systems, community hospitals, tertiary hospitals, and payers) and quality-of-care and outcomes experts to identify the gaps between the existing and ideal delivery of care for STEMI patients, as well as the requisite policy implications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The use of Web-based technology and a collaborative model to improve hospital adherence to secondary prevention guidelines has not been previously evaluated.
Methods: Twenty-four hospitals in Massachusetts participated in a collaborative that met quarterly, with didactic and best-practice presentations and interactive multidisciplinary team workshops. A customized tool kit and interactive, Web-based management tool were used for data collection and on-line feedback.
Background: "Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)" was developed and piloted by the American Heart Association (AHA), New England Affiliate; MassPRO, Inc.; and other organizations to reduce the gap in the application of secondary prevention guidelines in hospitalized cardiovascular disease patients. Collaborative learning programs and technology solutions were created for the project.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To study the effectiveness of a disease management program for patients with acid-related disorders.
Study Design: A cluster-randomized clinical trial of 406 patients comparing a disease management program with "usual practice."
Patients And Methods: Enrolled patients included those presenting with new dyspepsia and chronic users of antisecretory drugs in 8 geographically separate physician offices associated with the Orlando Health Care Group.
Background: Decisions regarding the appropriate timing for transfer of patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure from the coronary care unit (CCU) to the medical ward are often not based on well-founded medical data. We investigated the potential safety and effectiveness of a practice guideline recommending early "step-down" transfer of low-risk patients with congestive heart failure.
Patients And Methods: We studied the use of a practice guideline for 384 patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure in a hypothetic experiment.