Stroke Care in the Hospital
Appropriate and Timely Treatment
Antithrombotic Therapy by the End of the 2nd Hospital Day
What are we measuring?
The percentage (%) of patients treated with antithrombotic or antiplatelet medications by the end of the 2nd day in the hospital.
Why is this important?
Antiplatelet therapy may reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke by more than 20 percent. Most patients benefit from the most common antiplatelet medication, aspirin, which is used for both the management of acute ischemic stroke and for the prevention of stroke.
What is our performance telling us?
BIDMC monitors its performance on this measure every month to ensure that our stroke patients consistently receive the best recommended care. The chart below shows BIDMC's most recent quarterly performance, compared to the goal of 100%.
Source of BIDMC Data: American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines" data registry.
Source of comparison data: American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines" Goal
In the 1st quarter of FY 2013, 100% of the patients treated for stroke at BIDMC received antithrombotic or antiplatelet medications by the end of the 2nd day in the hospital. BIDMC's performance meets the national benchmarking goal.
What are we doing to improve?
To ensure that our patients receive the most timely and best recommended care, BIDMC has an inter-disciplinary Stroke Team that meets monthly to review each Stroke patient's care during the course of their hospital stay. During our review, the BIDMC Stroke Team looks for ways to consistently provide the best care to our stroke patients using National, State, and Internal Stroke Care guidelines for best practice.
By making sure stroke patients receive antiplatelet medications during their hospitalization and at discharge we can help them reduce the risk of experiencing another stroke.
Patients Receiving Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prevention Therapies
What are we measuring?
The percentage (%) of stroke patients receiving venous thrombosis and embolism (VTE) prevention therapies during their hospital stay.
Why is this important?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the result of a clot that forms in one of the large veins in the body - most often in the legs or pelvis. It is important to deliver preventative therapies against DVTs to stroke patients with either medication or mechanical compression boots while they are in the hospital. Stroke patients have an increased risk of developing DVTs and the subsequent life-threatening complication of pulmonary embolism if the clot travels from the leg or pelvis to the lungs. Stroke patients need to continue preventative therapies when they are discharged from the hospital.
What is our performance telling us?
BIDMC monitors its performance on this measure every month to ensure that our stroke patients consistently receive the best recommended care. The chart below shows BIDMC's most recent quarterly performance, compared to the goal of 100%.
"Source of BIDMC Data: American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines" data registry.
Source of comparison data: American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines" performance goal.
In the 1st quarter of FY 2013, 92% of the patients treated for stroke at BIDMC received VTE prevention therapies while in the hospital. BIDMC's performance is just below the national benchmarking goal.
What We are Doing to Improve
To ensure that our patients receive the most timely and best recommended care, BIDMC has an inter-disciplinary Stroke Team that meets monthly to review each Stroke patient's care during the course of their hospital stay. During our review, the BIDMC Stroke Team looks for ways to consistently provide the best care to our stroke patients using National, State, and Internal Stroke Care guidelines for best practice.
By making sure stroke patients receive preventative therapies against DVTs with either medication or mechanical compression boots while they are in the hospital stroke patients have a decreased risk of developing blood clots and the potential life-threatening complication of pulmonary embolism.
Last updated: April 3, 2013