Goals:To reduce the percentage of inappropriately prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients aged 50 and older from 80% (baseline) to 60% within 12 months in an academic, internal medicine clinic. Background:The use of PPIs has increased drastically worldwide. Internal medicine clinic patients had inappropriate use of PPIs for an average of 4-5 years. Study:A multidisciplinary quality improvement team used the Plan-Do-Study-Act Model of health care improvement and performed a root cause analysis to identify barriers to inappropriate use of PPIs. The outcome measure was the percentage of patients inappropriately prescribed PPI. Process measures were completion rates of PPI risk assessment and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Interventions included creation of customized electronic health record templates and education to providers and patients. Analysis was performed using monthly statistical process control charts. Results:The average rate of PPI discontinuation was 51.1% (n=92/180), which corresponds to 30.0% inappropriate PPI usage within 12 months. The mean PPI discontinuation rate in the oneyear pre-study, study and 6 months post-study period was 2.0%, 32.0% and 49.7% respectively. The mean esophagogastroduodenoscopy completion rate was 49.8% from the baseline of less than 30%. Conclusions:We achieved a statistically significant and sustainable reduction of inappropriate PPI use to 30% from the baseline rates of 80% and surpassed our goal within 12 months. This quality improvement was unique as no pharmacy personnel were utilized in this process. The
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in USA, and CRC screening remains suboptimal. The aim of this quality improvement was to increase CRC screening in the internal medicine clinic (IMC) patients, between the ages of 50–75 years, from a baseline rate of 50%–70% over 12 months with the introduction of faecal immunochemical test (FIT) testing. We used the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) method and performed a root cause analysis to identify barriers to acceptance of CRC screening. The quality improvement team created a driver diagram to identify and prioritise change ideas. We developed a process flow map to optimise opportunities to improve CRC screening. We performed eight PDSA cycles. The major components of interventions included: (1) leveraging health information technology; (2) optimising team work, (3) education to patient, physicians and IMC staff, (4) use of patient navigator for tracking FIT completion and (5) interactive workshops for the staff and physicians to learn motivational interview techniques. The outcome measure included CRC screening rates with either FIT or colonoscopy. The process measures included FIT order and completion rates. Data were analysed using a statistical process control and run charts. Four hundred and seven patients visiting the IMC were offered FIT, and 252 (62%) completed the test. Twenty-two (8.7%) of patients were FIT positive, 14 of those (63.6%) underwent a subsequent diagnostic colonoscopy. We achieved 75% CRC screening with FIT or colonoscopy within 12 months and exceeded our goal. Successful strategies included engaging the leadership, the front-line staff and a highly effective multidisciplinary team. For average-risk patients, FIT was the preferred method of screening. We were able to sustain a CRC screening rate of 75% during the 6-month postproject period. Sustainable annual FIT is required for successful CRC screening.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is more prevalent in patients with hypertension (HTN), and associated morbidities include stroke, heart failure and premature death. In the Internal Medicine Clinic (IMC), over 70% of the patients had a diagnosis of HTN and obesity. We identified a lack of OSA screening in patients with HTN. The aim of this quality improvement (QI) was to increase OSA diagnosis to 5% from the baseline rate of less than 1% in patients with HTN between the ages of 18 and 75 years over 6 months at IMC. We used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method. The QI team performed root cause analysis to identify materials/methods, provider and patient-related barriers. PDSA cycle included: (1) integration of customised workflow of loud Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure (STOP)-Body mass index (BMI), Age, Neck circumference, and Gender (BANG) OSA screening tool in the electronic health record (EHR); (2) physician education of OSA and EHR workflow; and (3) completion of STOP survey by patients, which was facilitated by nursing staff. The outcome measure was the percentage of OSA diagnosis in patients with HTN. The process measures included the percentage of patients with HTN screened for OSA and the increase in sleep study referrals in hypertensive patients with STOP-BANG score of ≥3. Increase in patient wait time and cost of sleep study were the balance measures. Data analysis was performed using weekly statistical process control chart. The average increase in OSA screening rate using the STOP-BANG tool was 3.88%. The significant variation seen in relation to PDSA cycles was not sustainable. 32% of patients scored ≥3 on the STOP-BANG tool, and 10.4% had a confirmed diagnosis of OSA. STOP-BANG tool integration in the EHR and a team approach did not result in a sustainable increase in OSA screening. OSA diagnosis was increased to 3.3% in IMC patient population within the 6-month period. The team identified multiple barriers to screening and diagnosis of OSA in the IMC.
BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of emergency department visits and hospital admissions in the USA. We identified a gap in the diagnosis and the use of guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with HF at the internal medicine clinic.AimTo improve the diagnosis and treatment of HF, as well as to reduce emergency department visits and hospitalisation over 12 months in patients aged 40–75 years.MethodsThe multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) team performed a root cause analysis and identified barriers to optimal guideline-directed medical therapy. Rates of patients on guideline-directed medical therapy with systolic HF diagnosis, emergency department visits and hospital admissions were the outcome measures. The process measures included echocardiogram order and completion rates, and rates of accurate classification of HF from the baseline rate of less than 10%. We used the focus, analyse, develop, execute and evaluate (FADE) model with five improvement cycles. The major components of interventions included (1) leveraging health information technology; (2) optimising teamwork; and (3) providing education to patients, physicians and internal medicine clinic staff. Data were analysed using statistical process control and run charts.ResultsWe observed a reduction in the total number of emergency department visits (160 vs 108), hospital admissions (117 vs 114) and observation visits (22 vs 16) comparing the 1-year preproject and 1-year postproject periods. An increase in the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers occurred from the baseline rate of 20%–37% during the second half of the project and was sustained at 71.4% (median) during 6 months of the postproject period.ConclusionsWe achieved a sustainable increase in the accurate diagnosis of HF and achieved 80% diagnosis during the 6-month poststudy period.
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