Impact of system and physician factors on the detection of obstructive coronary disease with diagnostic angiography in stable ischemic heart disease

The role of accreditation in 21st century health professions education: report of an International Consensus Group

BACKGROUND

Accreditation is considered an essential ingredient for an effective system of health professions education (HPE) globally. While accreditation systems exist in various forms worldwide, there has been little written about the contemporary enterprise of accreditation and even less about its role in improving health care outcomes. We set out to 1) identify a global, contemporary definition of accreditation in the health professions, 2) describe the relationship of educational accreditation to health care outcomes, 3) identify important questions and recurring issues in twenty-first century HPE accreditation, and 4) propose a framework of essential ingredients in present-day HPE accreditation.

METHODS

We identified health professions accreditation leaders via a literature search and a Google search of HPE institutions, as well as by accessing the networks of other leaders. These leaders were invited to join an international consensus consortium to advance the scholarship and thinking about HPE accreditation. We describe the consensus findings from the International Health Professions Accreditation Outcomes Consortium (IHPAOC).

RESULTS

We define accreditation as the process of formal evaluation of an educational program, institution, or system against defined standards by an external body for the purposes of quality assurance and enhancement. In the context of HPE, accreditation is distinct from other forms of program evaluation or research. Accreditation can enhance health care outcomes because of its ability to influence and standardize the quality of training programs, continuously enhance curriculum to align with population needs, and improve learning environments. We describe ten fundamental and recurring elements of accreditation systems commonly found in HPE and provide an overview of five emerging developments in accreditation in the health professions based on the consensus findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Accreditation has taken on greater importance in contemporary HPE. These consensus findings provide frameworks of core elements of accreditation systems and both recurring and emerging design issues. HPE scholars, educators, and leaders can build on these frameworks to advance research, development, and operation of high-quality accreditation systems worldwide.

Fractional Flow Reserve Derived from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Safely Defers Invasive Coronary Angiography in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVES

In the United States, the real-world feasibility and outcome of using fractional flow reserve from coronary computed tomography angiography (FFR_CT) is unknown. We sought to determine whether a strategy that combined coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and FFR_CT could safely reduce the need for invasive coronary angiography (ICA), as compared to coronary CTA alone.

METHODS

The study included 387 consecutive patients with suspected CAD referred for coronary CTA with selective FFR_CT and 44 control patients who underwent CTA alone. Lesions with 30-90% diameter stenoses were considered of indeterminate hemodynamic significance and underwent FFR_CT. Nadir FFR_CT ≤ 0.80 was positive. The rate of patients having ICA, revascularization and major adverse cardiac events were recorded.

RESULTS

Using coronary CTA and selective FFR_CT, 121 patients (32%) had at least one vessel with ≥50% diameter stenosis; 67/121 (55%) patients had at least one vessel with FFR_CT ≤ 0.80; 55/121 (45%) underwent ICA; and 34 were revascularized. The proportion of ICA patients undergoing revascularization was 62% (34 of 55). The number of patients with vessels with 30-50% diameter of stenosis was 90 (23%); 28/90 (31%) patients had at least one vessel with FFR_CT ≤ 0.80; 8/90 (9%) underwent ICA; and five were revascularized. In our institutional practice, compared to coronary CTA alone, coronary CTA with selective FFR_CT reduced the rates of ICA (45% vs. 80%) for those with obstructive CAD. Using coronary CTA with selective FFR_CT, no major adverse cardiac events occurred over a mean follow-up of 440 days.

CONCLUSION

FFR_CT safely deferred ICA in patients with CAD of indeterminate hemodynamic significance. A high proportion of those who underwent ICA were revascularized.

Identifying the factors influencing practice variation in thrombosis medicine: A qualitative content analysis of published practice-pattern surveys

Practice variation, the differences in clinical management between physicians, is one reason why patient outcomes may differ. Identifying factors that contribute to practice variation in areas of clinical uncertainty or equipoise may have implications for understanding and improving patient care. To discern what factors may influence practice variation, we completed a qualitative content analysis of all practice-pattern surveys in thrombosis medicine in the last 10years. Out of 2117 articles screened using a systematic search strategy, 33 practice-pattern surveys met eligibility criteria. Themes were identified using constant comparative analysis of qualitative data. Practice variation was noted in all 33 practice-pattern surveys. Contributing factors to variation included lack of available evidence, lack of clear and specific guideline recommendations, past experience, patient context, institutional culture and the perceived risk and benefit of a particular treatment. Additional themes highlight the value placed on expertise in challenging clinical scenarios, the complexity of practice variation and the value placed on minimizing practice variation.

Physician-level variation in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and the use of angiography among Veterans with elevated troponin

BACKGROUND

Cardiac troponin assays have improved the ability to detect myocardial damage. However, ascertaining whether troponin elevation is due to myocardial infarction (MI) or secondary to another process can be challenging. Our aim is to evaluate provider-level variation in the diagnosis of MI and the use of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) among patients with undifferentiated elevations in cardiac troponin.

METHODS

We analyzed data from all patients with elevated troponin levels in a single Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center between 2006 and 2007. One of several cardiologists prospectively evaluated each patient's presentation and course of care. We compared the frequency of MI diagnosis and ICA use between physicians using univariate odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS

Among 761 patients, 34.0 % were diagnosed with MI and 25.9 % underwent ICA. The unadjusted rates of MI (23.9 to 56.7 %, P = 0.02) and ICA (17.3 to 73.3 %, P < 0.001) differed between physicians. Comparing the patient cohorts for each physician, baseline characteristics were similar except for chest pain. In multivariate regression, factors associated with the use of cardiac ICA included an abnormal electrocardiograph (ECG) (OR = 1.89, P = 0.014), level of troponin (OR = 1.71, P = 0.004), chest pain (OR = 8.60, P < 0.001), and care by non-VA physicians (OR = 4.45, P = 0.006). One physician had a lower ICA use (OR = 0.56, P = 0.017). In multivariate regression of MI, no physician-level variation was observed.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with elevated troponin, the likelihood of being diagnosed with MI and undergoing ICA is dependent on their clinical presentation. After adjustment, physician-level variation in care was observed for the use of ICA, but not for the diagnosis of MI.