scholarly journals Assessment and Reduction of Unnecessary Thrombophilia Testing in Patients 18-60 Years with Acute Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3397-3397
Author(s):  
Effrosyni Apostolidou ◽  
Masumeh Hatami ◽  
Sean.I. Savitz ◽  
Eric Thomas ◽  
Priya Khatri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Antiphospholipid Antibody ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Inherited Thrombophilia ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Thrombophilia Testing ◽  
Fvl Mutation

Patients < 60 years with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are commonly tested for thrombophilia. Underlying this practice is the perception that the stroke may be the result of a hypercoagulable state, especially when an alternative cause is not evident. Although certain conditions, such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), can be associated with AIS and require anticoagulation, inherited thrombophilia, largely, is not a risk factor for AIS even in young adults with cryptogenic stroke, as supported by case-control and prospective observational studies. Moreover, testing in the acute phase of AIS may give erroneous results (i.e., increase of Factor 8 as an acute phase reactant), and increase health care costs. To assess our institutional performance on this matter, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 104 patients, age 18-60 years, who were admitted for AIS to Memorial Hermann Hospitals at the Texas Medical Center between 11/2016 and 7/2018, and whose stroke was considered cryptogenic or of undetermined origin (i.e., more than one possible causes) after initial diagnostic evaluation. Mean age at the time of event was 43 (range 20-58) years. There were 61 (59%) males. Fifty nine (57%) patients were White, 42 (40%) Black, 18 (17%) Hispanic, 2 (2%) Asian, and one (1%) of unknown race. Risk factors for AIS were: hypertension in 64 (61%) patients, diabetes in 26 (25%), smoking in 27 (26%), dyslipidemia in 32 (31%), prior AIS in 17 (16%), coronary artery disease in 4 (4%), and obesity in 10 (10%). None had known atrial fibrillation or other cardiac arrhythmia. Thrombophilia testing (at least one test) was performed in 82 (79%) of the patients. In the vast majority (70 patients, 85%) of cases, such testing was done within 1-3 days of admission as part of the initial stroke evaluation. A total of 752 tests were performed on the 82 patients, 56 (7%) of which were positive. Increased Factor 8 (F8) activity (i.e., ≥200%) was the commonest abnormality observed (31/58 patients tested, or 53%), followed by low protein S (PS) activity (13/77, 17%), Factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation (3/71, 4%), low antithrombin (AT) activity (3/73, 4%), elevated homocysteine (2/79, 3%), low protein C (PC) activity (1/76, 1%), and positive APL (1/251, 1%), while no prothrombin gene mutation was seen. All but one of F8, PS, and AT tests were performed in the acute phase of the stroke. The estimated annual cost for testing was $65000. Forty-two (51%) of the 82 patients tested had at least one abnormal test. In 2/42 (5%) of these patients, repeat testing (i.e., PS activity, F8) was done at least a month later, which, however, did not confirm the abnormality. Forty-seven (45%) patients were seen in the Outpatient Neurology Clinic after their stroke, for a median follow up of 5 (0.2 - 24) months. In 54 (52%) patients the cause of stroke remained undetermined even after thorough evaluation. Sixteen (15%) patients had a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Of all patients tested, thrombophilia was confirmed in three, i.e., two patients with heterozygous FVL mutation and one with known homozygous FVL mutation and a significant personal history of venous thromboses. Only in one patient (1/82, 1%) management was changed taking into account the thrombophilia testing results: a 57 year old male with low PS activity (tested 3 months after the stroke) and a PFO not amenable to closure, for whom anticoagulation was started despite the lack of venous thromboembolism. Based on these results, and due to concerns of indiscriminate testing, we created a practice guideline supported by current literature, as a reference for clinicians (see Figure). Briefly, we eliminated inherited thrombophilia testing in the acute phase, and rendered it optional in the chronic phase at the discretion of the treating physician, when anticoagulation is considered (i.e., some cases of PFO or recurrent stroke). Accordingly, we removed these tests from the admission order panel in the Electronic Medical Record. After internal audit and feedback from health care providers across disciplines, we submitted the new guideline for multidisciplinary review and system-wide adoption (i.e., multiple hospitals). We conclude that routine thrombophilia testing is not an effective tool for secondary stroke prevention even in young patients with cryptogenic AIS. Institutional practice guidelines are helpful in tailoring such testing, hence avoiding misdiagnosis of a thrombophilic state and unnecessary costs. Figure Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Tinkering at the margins: evaluating the pace and direction of primary care reform in Ontario, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Aggarwal ◽  
A. Paul Williams
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Primary Care Reform ◽  
Care Assessment

Abstract Background Primary care reform has been on the political agenda in Canada and many industrialized countries for several decades; it is widely seen as the foundation for broader health system transformation. Federal investments in primary care, including major cash transfers to provinces and territories as part of a 10-year health care funding agreement in 2004, triggered waves of primary care reform across Canada. Nevertheless, Commonwealth Fund surveys show, Canada continues to lag behind other industrialized nations with respect to timely access to care, electronic medical record use and audit and feedback for quality improvement in primary care. This paper evaluates the pace and direction of primary care reform as well as the extent of resulting change in the organization and delivery of primary care in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for this study. A literature review was conducted to analyze the core dimensions of primary care reform, the history of reform in Ontario, and the extent to which different dimensions are integrated into Ontario’s models. Quantitative data on the number of family physicians/general practitioners and patients enrolled in these models was examined over a 10-year period to determine the degree of change that has taken place in the organization and delivery of primary care in Ontario. Results There are 11 core reform dimensions that individually and collectively shift from conventional primary care toward the more expansive vision of primary health care. Assessment of Ontario’s models against these core dimensions demonstrate that there has been little substantive change in the organization and delivery of primary care over 10 years in Ontario. Conclusions Primary care reform is a multi-dimensional construct with different reform models bundling core dimensions in different ways. This understanding is important to move beyond the rhetoric of “reform” and to critically assess the pace and direction of change in primary care in Ontario and in other jurisdictions. The conceptual framework developed in this paper can assist decision-makers, academics and health care providers in all jurisdictions in evaluating the pace of change in the primary care sector, as well as other sectors.

scholarly journals Brazilian guidelines for endovascular treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octávio Marques Pontes-Neto ◽  
Pedro Cougo ◽  
Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins ◽  
Daniel G. Abud ◽  
Raul G. Nogueira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

ABSTRACT These guidelines are the result of a joint effort from writing groups of the Brazilian Stroke Society, the Scientific Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the Brazilian Stroke Network and the Brazilian Society of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology. Members from these groups participated in web-based discussion forums with predefined themes, followed by videoconference meetings in which controversies and position statements were discussed, leading to a consensus. This guidelines focuses on the implications of the recent clinical trials on endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke due to proximal arterial occlusions, and the final text aims to guide health care providers, health care managers and public health authorities in managing patients with this condition in Brazil.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of an Electronic Communication Tool on Transitions in Care From the Intensive Care Unit: Protocol for a Cluster-Specific Pre-Post Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanna Parsons Leigh ◽  
Rebecca Brundin-Mather ◽  
Liam Whalen-Browne ◽  
Devika Kashyap ◽  
Khara Sauro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Transitions In Care ◽  
Post Trial ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Transitions in care are vulnerable periods in health care that can expose patients to preventable errors due to incomplete or delayed communication between health care providers. Transitioning critically ill patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to other patient care units (PCUs) is particularly risky, due to the high acuity of the patients and the diversity of health care providers involved in their care. Instituting structured documentation to standardize written communication between health care providers during transitions has been identified as a promising means to reduce communication breakdowns. We developed an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured tool—an electronic transfer (e-transfer) tool—to facilitate and standardize the composition of written transfer summaries in the ICUs of one Canadian city. The tool consisted of 10 primary sections with a user interface combination of structured, automated, and free-text fields. OBJECTIVE Our overarching goal is to evaluate whether implementation of our e-transfer tool will improve the completeness and timeliness of transfer summaries and streamline communications between health care providers during high-risk transitions. METHODS This study is a cluster-specific pre-post trial, with randomized and staggered implementation of the e-transfer tool in four hospitals in Calgary, Alberta. Hospitals (ie, clusters) were allocated randomly to cross over every 2 months from control (ie, dictation only) to intervention (ie, e-transfer tool). Implementation at each site was facilitated with user education, point-of-care support, and audit and feedback. We will compare transfer summaries randomly sampled over 6 months postimplementation to summaries randomly sampled over 6 months preimplementation. The primary outcome will be a binary composite measure of the timeliness and completeness of transfer summaries. Secondary measures will include overall completeness, timeliness, and provider ratings of transfer summaries; hospital and ICU lengths of stay; and post-ICU patient outcomes, including ICU readmission, adverse events, cardiac arrest, rapid response team activation, and mortality. We will use descriptive statistics (ie, medians and means) to describe demographic characteristics. The primary outcome will be compared within each hospital pre- and postimplementation using separate logistic regression models for each hospital, with adjustment for patient characteristics. RESULTS Participating hospitals were cluster randomized to the intervention between July 2018 and January 2019. Preliminary extraction of ICU patient admission lists was completed in September 2019. We anticipate that evaluation data collection will be completed by early 2021, with first results ready for publication in spring or summer 2021. CONCLUSIONS This study will report the impact of implementing an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured transfer tool on communication and preventable medical errors among patients transferred from the ICU to other hospital care units. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03590002; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03590002 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/18675

scholarly journals Role of Hypercoagulable Studies in Cryptogenic Stroke: A Retrospective Study

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 33-33
Author(s):  
Amulya Prakash ◽  
Sindhuja Korem ◽  
Sindhura Inkollu ◽  
Haresh Gandhi ◽  
Farrukh Iqbal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Clinical Management ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Cryptogenic Stroke ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Inherited Thrombophilia ◽  
Thrombophilia Testing

Introduction: Hypercoagulable states are recognized, although uncommon, etiology of ischemic stroke especially in young adults under the age of 40 and children. Currently, there are no specific guidelines related to screening patients for inherited thrombophilia who are diagnosed with ischemic stroke without any identifiable risk factors. Typically, patients to be screened for thrombophilia will have prior unexplained thromboembolic events. We evaluated the association between thrombophilia and cryptogenic stroke and the role of serologic and genetic testing to establish the diagnosis. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective study through a review of EHR of patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke at our hospital between 2015- 2019 with laboratory testing for thrombophilia. The primary outcome was to identify any positive association between thrombophilia and cryptogenic stroke. The secondary outcome was to identify any change in clinical management based on thrombophilia testing results. Results: Among 35 patients included, who had an average age of 58.5 years ± 16.37 years with 36.6% under the age of 55 and 63.3% above the age of 55. Sex distribution was 40% female and 60%, male. Of 35 patients who had thrombophilia studies ordered, 9 patients had at least one positive thrombophilia test identified but none of them had any resultant change in management. 2 patients had protein C deficiency, 3 patients had protein S deficiency and 4 patients had antithrombin III deficiency, however, they were measured during the acute phase and were not repeated as an outpatient. None of the patients were found to have any Factor V and PT gene G20210A gene mutation. Lupus anticoagulant, antiphospholipid antibodies, homocysteine level were not uniformly tested. Conclusion: Only 8% of all patients who had thrombophilia testing had at least one positive study with no change in clinical management. We concluded that there is a poor correlation between inherited thrombophilia and cryptogenic stroke. The majority of our patients who had worked up done were above the age of 55 years who didn't display any symptom of thrombophilia previously. It raises a question of reflexive and inappropriate testing in the absence of clear guidelines for thrombophilia workup in the setting of cryptogenic stroke. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of an Electronic Communication Tool on Transitions in Care From the Intensive Care Unit: Protocol for a Cluster-Specific Pre-Post Trial

10.2196/18675 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e18675
Author(s):  
Jeanna Parsons Leigh ◽  
Rebecca Brundin-Mather ◽  
Liam Whalen-Browne ◽  
Devika Kashyap ◽  
Khara Sauro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Transitions In Care ◽  
Post Trial ◽  
The Impact

Background Transitions in care are vulnerable periods in health care that can expose patients to preventable errors due to incomplete or delayed communication between health care providers. Transitioning critically ill patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to other patient care units (PCUs) is particularly risky, due to the high acuity of the patients and the diversity of health care providers involved in their care. Instituting structured documentation to standardize written communication between health care providers during transitions has been identified as a promising means to reduce communication breakdowns. We developed an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured tool—an electronic transfer (e-transfer) tool—to facilitate and standardize the composition of written transfer summaries in the ICUs of one Canadian city. The tool consisted of 10 primary sections with a user interface combination of structured, automated, and free-text fields. Objective Our overarching goal is to evaluate whether implementation of our e-transfer tool will improve the completeness and timeliness of transfer summaries and streamline communications between health care providers during high-risk transitions. Methods This study is a cluster-specific pre-post trial, with randomized and staggered implementation of the e-transfer tool in four hospitals in Calgary, Alberta. Hospitals (ie, clusters) were allocated randomly to cross over every 2 months from control (ie, dictation only) to intervention (ie, e-transfer tool). Implementation at each site was facilitated with user education, point-of-care support, and audit and feedback. We will compare transfer summaries randomly sampled over 6 months postimplementation to summaries randomly sampled over 6 months preimplementation. The primary outcome will be a binary composite measure of the timeliness and completeness of transfer summaries. Secondary measures will include overall completeness, timeliness, and provider ratings of transfer summaries; hospital and ICU lengths of stay; and post-ICU patient outcomes, including ICU readmission, adverse events, cardiac arrest, rapid response team activation, and mortality. We will use descriptive statistics (ie, medians and means) to describe demographic characteristics. The primary outcome will be compared within each hospital pre- and postimplementation using separate logistic regression models for each hospital, with adjustment for patient characteristics. Results Participating hospitals were cluster randomized to the intervention between July 2018 and January 2019. Preliminary extraction of ICU patient admission lists was completed in September 2019. We anticipate that evaluation data collection will be completed by early 2021, with first results ready for publication in spring or summer 2021. Conclusions This study will report the impact of implementing an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured transfer tool on communication and preventable medical errors among patients transferred from the ICU to other hospital care units. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03590002; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03590002 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/18675

Malpractice & Negligence: Cal. Supreme Court Clarifies Negligence Provisions under State’s Elder Abuse Act

1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-203
Author(s):  
Kendra Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facility ◽  
Pressure Sores ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nursing Facility ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of California held, in Delaney v. Baker, 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 610 (1999), that the heightened remedies available under the Elder Abuse Act (Act), Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 15657,15657.2 (West 1998), apply to health care providers who engage in reckless neglect of an elder adult. The court interpreted two sections of the Act: (1) section 15657, which provides for enhanced remedies for reckless neglect; and (2) section 15657.2, which limits recovery for actions based on “professional negligence.” The court held that reckless neglect is distinct from professional negligence and therefore the restrictions on remedies against health care providers for professional negligence are inapplicable.Kay Delaney sued Meadowood, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), after a resident, her mother, died. Evidence at trial indicated that Rose Wallien, the decedent, was left lying in her own urine and feces for extended periods of time and had stage I11 and IV pressure sores on her ankles, feet, and buttocks at the time of her death.

Using Technology to Improve Access to Health Care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline A. Mashima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Improve Access

Important initiatives in health care include (a) improving access to services for disadvantaged populations, (b) providing equal access for individuals with limited or non-English proficiency, and (c) ensuring cultural competence of health-care providers to facilitate effective services for individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2001). This article provides a brief overview of the use of technology by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to extend their services to underserved populations who live in remote geographic areas, or when cultural and linguistic differences impact service delivery.

Overview of Current Approaches to Aural Rehabilitation for Adults With Cochlear Implants

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1175-1187
Author(s):  
Rachel Glade ◽  
Erin Taylor ◽  
Deborah S. Culbertson ◽  
Christin Ray
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Aural Rehabilitation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Clinical Models ◽  
Hearing Health

Purpose This clinical focus article provides an overview of clinical models currently being used for the provision of comprehensive aural rehabilitation (AR) for adults with cochlear implants (CIs) in the Unites States. Method Clinical AR models utilized by hearing health care providers from nine clinics across the United States were discussed with regard to interprofessional AR practice patterns in the adult CI population. The clinical models were presented in the context of existing knowledge and gaps in the literature. Future directions were proposed for optimizing the provision of AR for the adult CI patient population. Findings/Conclusions There is a general agreement that AR is an integral part of hearing health care for adults with CIs. While the provision of AR is feasible in different clinical practice settings, service delivery models are variable across hearing health care professionals and settings. AR may include interprofessional collaboration among surgeons, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists with varying roles based on the characteristics of a particular setting. Despite various existing barriers, the clinical practice patterns identified here provide a starting point toward a more standard approach to comprehensive AR for adults with CIs.

Interdisciplinary Therapy Assessments for the Older Adult

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Lynn Chatfield ◽  
Sandra Christos ◽  
Michael McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Changing Economy

In a changing economy and a changing industry, health care providers need to complete thorough, comprehensive, and efficient assessments that provide both an accurate depiction of the patient's deficits and a blueprint to the path of treatment for older adults. Through standardized testing and observations as well as the goals and evidenced-based treatment plans we have devised, health care providers can maximize outcomes and the functional levels of patients. In this article, we review an interdisciplinary assessment that involves speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy to work with older adults in health care settings. Using the approach, we will examine the benefits of collaboration between disciplines, an interdisciplinary screening process, and the importance of sharing information from comprehensive discipline-specific evaluations. We also will discuss the importance of having an understanding of the varied scopes of practice, the utilization of outcome measurement tools, and a patient-centered assessment approach to care.

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