Journal Articles
Journal Articles: Quality improvement (QI) is based on a methodology of baseline measurement, intervention, and remeasurement/analysis, with iterative improvement cycles along the way. The accuracy of the data used for measuring and remeasuring quality is therefore paramount, which leads to the question: What if the data are not accurate?
Read MoreJournal Articles: Remote monitoring of pediatric cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has become an important tool in outpatient management. Recent guidelines (Shah et al, JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2021;7:1437, PMID 34794667) from the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES) have recommended remote monitoring of CIEDs every 3–12 months for pacemakers and every 3–6 months for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, with an increase in frequency when the device is approaching elective replacement indicators. Compared with their adult counterparts, pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease have a higher frequency of epicardial devices that carry an elevated risk of lead fracture, which may lead to adverse outcomes, especially in pacemaker-dependent patients (Post et al, Neth Heart J 2011;19:331, PMID 21567217). CIED remote transmission remains a vital modality to ensure safe monitoring and assessment of temporal CIED trends, especially battery longevity and lead functionality. Furthermore, advances in remote monitoring foster a sense of disease-specific knowledge, improved self-management, and shared decision making (Walker et al, Int J Med Inform 2019;124:78, PMID 30784430).
Read MoreJournal Articles: Pharmacists have a unique role and responsibility in an individual’s care, especially for those with chronic disease. Insights into how pharmacy fellows can be engaged to assess and improve guideline-concordant anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (AF) were gathered from a quality improvement project sponsored by the Heart Rhythm Society, in collaboration with the University of Florida.
Read MoreJournal Articles: This article continues the series of Heart Rhythm Journal quarterly features highlighting science relevant to quality improvement. The focus of this feature is practice improvement surrounding the use and implementation of cardioversion in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The featured research investigates different approaches to the timing and performance of cardioversion to improve efficacy, labor,
and cost.
Journal Articles: In this EP News, we focus on the concept of center-specific quality improvement (QI). Large multicenter trials, observational studies, and practice guidelines provide us with the evidence and expert recommendations to standardize care delivery, inform QI initiatives, and improve outcomes across care delivery systems. However, at its core, QI is a continuous process and not simply the achievement of a specific threshold goal or the ability to define a center’s care as “high quality.” Center-specific QI projects are developed and implemented at individual centers. They may target a range of systems from hospital-wide to individual provider practices, and they are tailored to the strengths, challenges, and needs of a particular health care environment. The smaller scale of center-specific QI allows for continuous iteration and evolution of QI efforts in a process that is nimble and dynamic.
Read MoreJournal Articles: In this issue of Heart Rhythm, we present a new quarterly feature highlighting quality improvement in the delivery of heart rhythm care. These quarterly features will summarize key publications of relevance to the electrophysiology community and provide a forum for recognizing the growing importance of measuring, reporting, and improving the quality of heart rhythm care.
Read MoreJournal Articles: In this issue of Heart Rhythm, we continue this quarterly feature highlighting developments and advances in quality improvement in the delivery of heart rhythm care. The current issue focuses on quality improvement surrounding the challenges created for heart rhythm care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Read MoreJournal Articles: In this issue of Heart Rhythm, we present recent publications relevant to quality of care and outcomes, particularly in relation to clinical decision support and shared decision making.
Read MoreJournal Articles: Understanding the quality of atrial fibrillation (AF) care delivery is critically important for identifying care gaps, targeting improvement efforts, and guiding resource allocation. In this effort, several professional societies have defined a series of AF quality indicators (QIs) that can be used to monitor adherence to evidence-based processes and AF-related outcomes. In Canada, this effort has been led by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS). On behalf of the CCS AF QI Working Group, in this issue of Heart Rhythm Journal, we summarize our process for defining and measuring AF QIs, present 2 recent publications reporting national data on key AF Qis, and discuss challenges encountered and future directions.
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