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Assessing the appropriateness of pre-operative EKGs for patients transferred from OSH for procedures by Dr. Lee. Study reveals ordering trends and offers solutions for improved management.
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EKGs in pre-operative management for OSH transfers Dr. Lee and the EKG
Goal • Assess if EKG’s are ordered appropriately on patients who are transferred from OSH to undergo Dr. John Lee endoscopic procedures
Background information When to order an EKG
Indications for Pre-Operative EKG • ACC/AHA recommends preoperative EKG in patients • at least one clinical risk factor scheduled to undergo vascular surgery • patients scheduled to undergo intermediate-risk surgery with known cardiovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, or cerebrovascular disease • They do not recommend preoperative EKGs in asymptomatic patients undergoing low-risk surgical procedures. • There is a recommendations for further work up on any patient with symptomatic heart disease
QED • Thus any asymptomatic patient that is transferred for an endoscopic procedure does not warrant a pre-operative EKG • However, if a patient shows symptoms of ACS, CAD, CHF, or arrhythmia getting an EKG would be appropriate
Population • Patient’s were all transferred from an OSH for a potential procedure to be done by Dr. Lee. • 10 total patients • Male = 3 Females =7 • Patients selected from the online Hospitalist Transfer Webpage. Patients were the last 10 John Lee acceptances as of 4/16/13. Admission occurred over the course of 1 month • Inclusion criteria is acceptance of patient by Dr. Lee. Exclusion criteria was any patient who did not have an endoscopy preformed
Methods • Information regarding the patient’s stay was obtained from a retrospective search of the patient's online chart and orders from that hospitalization. • EKG appropriateness was determined as per the above descriptors. • All EKGs for endoscopic procedures of asymptomatic patients were deemed inappropriate • All EKG’s preformed for any symptomatic heart disease was also deemed appropriate • Those patient’s who did not require and EKG and did not receive an EKG were also noted to be appropriate Pre-Operative management
Results • 9/10 patients underwent endoscopic procedure • 1 patient was found not to be a candidate for an endoscopic procedure on transfer and underwent surgical management by Gyn/Onc
Results • In total 8/9 pts had EKG’s ordered after transfer. • Of those 8 pt’s, 2 EKGs were appropriately ordered for pre-operative reasons • Pt showing signs of symptomatic tachycardia/heart failure • Pt with abdominal pain and recent hx of meth use • Of the 6 ordered incorrectly 2 were ordered by anesthesiology (33%). The remaining 4 were ordered by medicine (66%)
RESULTS • In total 4/9 patients received appropriate pre-operative EKG management • 2 appropriately ordered and 2 appropriately not ordered
Conclusion • EKG pre-operative management was done inappropriately in 56% of studied cases per the ACC/AHA guidelines.
But Why? • It’s hard to say… • The study was retrospective/cross-sectional and those physicians who ordered the EKG’s were not surveyed as to why they ordered EKG was ordered. • A future study that surveyed these physicians would be a more informative study. • …but if you ask me • Pressure to make sure patient’s aren’t delayed for procedures • Pressure from anesthesia to obtain these EKG’s regardless of indications • Education/Culture of both anesthesia and medicine
Cost • Medicare reimbursement = $68 / EKG interpreted • # of incorrectly ordered EKG’s over 4 weeks: 6 • Assuming accurate cross-section • Average cost: $408/mo • $4,896 of Medicare waste per year on one subset of patients.
Solutions? • Increasing anesthesia and medicine interaction regarding pre-op • Pre-Op Clinic together • Joint lectures • Pre-Op order set