Implementation of a Direct Oral Anticoagulation Screening Service at a Large Academic Medical Center Provided by a Pharmacist-managed Antithrombosis Clinic as a Method to Expand Antithrombotic Stewardship Efforts

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen M. Uppuluri ◽  
Meghan N. McComb ◽  
Nancy L. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Electronic Prescribing ◽  
First Year ◽  
Screening Service ◽  
Medication Access ◽  
Academic Medical

Background: How and when to monitor direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for safety and efficacy is a question many anticoagulation clinics are trying to answer. A pharmacist-led antithrombosis clinic (ATC) initiated a clinical service to provide oversight for all prescribed DOACs. Objective: Describe the implementation and outcomes of a DOAC screening service. Methods: The service was initiated utilizing a daily electronic prescribing report of DOAC prescriptions. Prescriptions were reviewed by clinical pharmacists to assess patient insurance, eligibility, and accuracy of prescribed doses. Results: In the first year since service implementation in April 2016, 317 new prescriptions and 595 refill prescriptions were reviewed. A DOAC service pharmacist was able to reach 125 (39.4%) of 317 patients about their new prescription and 59 (9.9%) of 595 refill patients to provide education and follow-up on management as needed. Interventions were performed for 79 (28%) of 317 new prescriptions and 86 (14.5%) of 595 refill prescriptions. Common interventions with new prescriptions include contacting the prescriber for a medication or dose change (25.4%), assistance with medication access (21.5%), and coordinating appropriate lab and provider follow up (21.5%). Common interventions with refill prescriptions include recommending appropriate follow-up (50%) and contacting the prescriber for medication or dosage change (24.4%). Conclusion: Implementation of a DOAC screening service identified and resolved dosing errors, improved medication access, provided patient education, and improved follow-up.

Management of Bleeding Complications in Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants at a Large Tertiary Academic Medical Center

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
Craig A. Stevens ◽  
Heather Dell’Orfano ◽  
David P. Reardon ◽  
Lina Matta ◽  
Bonnie Greenwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Bleeding Complications ◽  
Academic Medical

scholarly journals Dosing accuracy of direct oral anticoagulants in an academic medical center

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 544-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Schwartz ◽  
Steve Merrill ◽  
Noelle de Leon ◽  
Ashley Thompson ◽  
Margaret Fang
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Dosing Accuracy

Abstract T P168: A Wake-up Call for Wake-up Strokes

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine F Huang ◽  
Jennifer E Fugate ◽  
Alejandro A Rabinstein
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Good Outcome ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Stroke Mechanism

INTRODUCTION: Studies suggest 8%-28% of ischemic strokes present as wake-up strokes (WUS). The unknown time of symptom onset precludes these patients from approved treatments for acute ischemic stroke, but a substantial proportion of patients may be deemed candidates for treatment if other factors are considered. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics associated with clinical outcomes of WUS patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of patients with ischemic stroke admitted to a large academic medical center between January 2011 and May 2012. We identified patients with stroke symptoms upon awakening or those who were found with stroke symptoms with an unknown time of onset. Baseline demographics, stroke mechanism, presenting NIHSS, Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores on discharge and at 3-month follow-up were obtained. A good outcome was defined as mRS 0-2. RESULTS: WUS patients comprised 22% (162/731) of all patients with ischemic stroke at our institution during this time period. Median age was 74 years (range 15-100), median presenting NIHSS was 5 (range 0-28), and median initial ASPECTS 10 (range 0-10). A cardioembolic mechanism was identified in 68 patients (42%). Predictors of good outcome at hospital discharge were lower initial NIHSS (3.5 versus 12.0, p<0.0001) and higher ASPECTS (9.8 versus 8.1, p=0.0002). The predictors of good outcomes at 3 months were younger age (69.1 versus 75.8, p=0.009), lower initial NIHSS (5.0 versus 12.6, p<0.0001), and higher ASPECTS (9.5 versus 8.1, p=0.0006). One hundred and eleven patients (68.5%) had initial ASPECTS of 10. Of those, 19 had NIHSS≥10 and 7 were treated with acute recanalization therapies. Four of the 7 treated patients had good outcomes, and 2 of the 12 untreated patients had good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients with strokes of unknown onset and severe deficits have good outcomes without acute stroke treatment. Patients with NIHSS≥10 and ASPECTS 10 may be candidates for acute recanalization therapy.

Growth and Management of Repaired Complete Tracheal Rings after Slide Tracheoplasty

2019 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndy J. Wilcox ◽  
Claudia Schweiger ◽  
Catherine K. Hart ◽  
Alessandro de Alarcon ◽  
Nithin S. Peddireddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Balloon Dilation ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Slide Tracheoplasty ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Operative Notes ◽  
Over Time

ObjectiveThis study documents the growth and course of repaired complete tracheal rings over time after slide tracheoplasty.Study DesignCase series with review.SettingTertiary pediatric academic medical center.Subjects/MethodsMedical records of pediatric patients with confirmed tracheal rings on bronchoscopy who underwent slide tracheoplasty between January 2001 and December 2015 were reviewed. Patients who had operative notes documenting tracheal sizing over time were included. Exclusion criteria included tracheal stenosis not caused by complete tracheal rings, surgical repair prior to presentation at our institution, or lack of adequate sizing information. The postoperative follow-up was examined and airway growth over time documented.ResultsOf 197 slide tracheoplasties performed during the study time period, 139 were for complete tracheal rings, and 40 of those children met inclusion criteria. The median age at time of surgery was 7 months, and the median initial airway size was 3.9 mm (n = 34). The median growth postoperatively was 1.9 mm over a median follow-up period of 57 months (0.42 mm/year), which is similar to growth rates of unrepaired complete tracheal rings ( P = .53). Children underwent a median of 10 postoperative endoscopies, with time between endoscopies increasing further out from surgery. The most commonly performed adjunctive procedure was balloon dilation.ConclusionsThis is the first study documenting continued growth of repaired complete tracheal rings after slide tracheoplasty. Postoperative endoscopic surveillance ensures adequate growth. Intervals between airway endoscopies can be increased as the child gets older, as the airway increases in size, and as long as symptoms are minimal.

scholarly journals Reducing Preventable Readmissions in a Neurosurgical Patient Population at an Academic Medical Center

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayan Moosa ◽  
Lindsay Bowerman ◽  
Ellen Smith ◽  
Mindy Bryant ◽  
Natalie Krovetz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Neurosurgical Patient ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract INTRODUCTION Hospital readmissions are extremely costly in terms of time and resources and negatively impact patient safety and satisfaction. In this study, we performed a Pareto analysis of 30-day readmissions in a neurosurgical patient population in order to identify patients at high-risk for readmission. Using this information, we implemented a new practice parameter with the goal of reducing preventable readmissions. METHODS Patient characteristics and causes for readmission were prospectively collected for all neurosurgical patients readmitted to an academic medical center within 30 d of discharge between July and October 2018. A program was then initiated where postoperative neurosurgical spine patients were contacted by phone at standardized intervals before their 2-wk follow-up appointment, with the purpose of more quickly addressing surgical concerns and/or coordinating care for general medical issues. Finally, 30-d readmission rates were compared between the initial 4-mo period and January 2019 through April 2019. RESULTS Prior to intervention, the largest group of readmitted patients included those who had undergone recent spinal surgery (16/47, 34%). Among spine readmissions during this time, 47% were readmitted before their two-week follow-up appointment, 67% lived over 50 miles from the medical center, and 40% were Medicare-insured. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean rate of spine readmissions per month in the periods before (7.0%) and after (3.0%) the program onset (P = .029, 57% decline). The total number of surgically and medically related spine readmissions decreased between the pre- and postintervention periods from 10 to 3 (70%) and 3 to 1 (67%), respectively. CONCLUSION Our data suggests that a large number of neurosurgical readmissions may be prevented by the simple process of early follow-up and consistent communication via telephone. Readmission rates may be further reduced by standardizing the coordination of postoperative general medical follow-up and providing thorough wound care teaching for high-risk patients.

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