Quality Improvement Projects
2019-2020 Projects
- Enhancing Fellow knowledge of catheterization laboratory workflow
- Reducing overuse of inpatient telemetry
- Efficiency improvements to stress echocardiography
- Reducing waste in outpatient clinic workflows
- Improving patient experience with informed consent
- Addressing contrast nephropathy due to coronary angiography
2018-2019 Projects
- Enhancements to a post-MI early follow-up clinic
- Improved adherence to LifeVest usage
- Reducing low-value echocardiograms through menu redesign
- Improving efficiency of elective admission for rhythm drug loading
- An outpatient infusion center for acute decompensated CHF
- Standardizing care of mechanical circulatory support devices
2017-2018 Projects
- Reducing overuse of telemetry
- Ordering menu redesign to improve appropriateness of noninvasive cardiac tests
- Reduced radiation exposure for operators with new catheterization laboratory equipment
- Educating psychiatry trainees and faculty on assessment for QT prolongation
- Cardiogenic Shock Team
2016-2017 Projects
- Improved recording of complications from cardiac catheterization procedures
- Implementation of a risk assessment tool for contrast induced nephropathy in the cath lab
- Reducing overuse of telemetry
- Reducing overuse of unnecessary echocardiography (manuscript under review)
- Standardizing IABP removal in the CCU
- Improve patient awareness of periprocedural anticoagulation management for cardiac device implantation
- Increasing statin use among patients with elevated calcium scores
- Reduced NPO times prior to cardiac catheterization
- Standardization of CT and Nuclear reporting
- Stress first MPI protocol to reduce time and radiation (manuscript under review)
2015-2016 Projects
- Same-day discharge after elective percutaneous coronary intervention
- Improved recording of complications from cardiac catheterization procedures
- Reduced preoperative cardiac consultations
- Reducing unnecessarily repeated limited echo on inpatients
- Implementation of a risk assessment tool for contrast induced nephropathy in the cath lab
- Assessment of interpretation of common electrocardiograms among physicians
- Confidence of medical trainees in interpreting electrocardiograms
- A pharmacist-assisted protocol for management of anti-arrhythmic drugs (Ann Pharmacother 2017;51:39-43.)
2014-2015 Projects
- Reducing erroneous findings of anterior wall infarction represented by poor R wave progression on ECG due to lead malpositioning
- Using online educational videos to improve patient’s education regarding heart failure treatment and management
- Same-day discharge after elective percutaneous coronary intervention
- Reducing unnecessary myocardial perfusion scan ordering through provider education (Open Heart 2017;4:e000589.)
- Improvements to track of potential complications from amiodarone therapy
- Improved recording of complications from cardiac catheterization procedures
2013-2014 Projects
- Improving communication between the cardiology consult service and housestaff teams at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center
- Deciphering the bundle: A protocol to reduce cancelled alerts for ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with left bundle branch block
- Improving patient notification to prevent cancellation of myocardial perfusion studies
- Video demonstration of pre-cath instructions to improve patient satisfaction
- Tutorial for proper pre-cath assessment
- Improving appropriateness of STEMI alert activations
- Improving inpatient STEMI protocol
- Improving PA catheter management