Improving Patient Outcomes in Thromboembolic Disorders: Focus on Anticoagulant Therapy

Quick Links:   ACS Resources - VTE Resources

ACS Resources

Guidelines

NEW! The Eighth ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: Evidence-Based Guidelines Subscription to Chest required. Includes chapters on antithrombotic therapy in NSTEMI and STEMI

American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Revised Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of Unstable Angina (UA) and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

• Executive Summary
• Full Text Guidelines
• Download to your handheld device
• Unstable Angina and NSTEMI ACC/AHA Pocket Guideline
• American College of Cardiology Guideline Focus Center – Acute Coronary Syndrome - The Guideline Focus Center is designed to provide the latest ACC clinical practice guidelines and accompanying educational material that can help the clinician put the principles of the guidelines into practice. In addition to the full-text and executive summaries of the guidelines, links to educational webcasts, expert opinions, standing-orders, wall charts, and other relevant material are provided.

American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

• Executive Summary
• Full Text Guidelines
• Download to your handheld device
• NEW! 2007 Focused Update of the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
• NEW! 2007 Focused Update of the ACC/AHA/SCAI 2005 Guideline Update for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Standards/ Performance Measures

• Joint Commission 2008 National Patient Safety Goals - The Joint Commission 2008 National Patient Safety Goals includes Goal 3E to "Reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy.”
• Acute Myocardial Infarction Core Measures - The Joint Commission collaborates with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) with respect to the performance measures for patients with an acute MI.

Sample Protocols

ACTION Registry™ Templates

• Non-ST Segment Elevation (NSTE) ACS Initial Management
• NSTEMI and ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Discharge Form

Other Resources

• JAMA Patient Page: Acute Coronary Syndromes - The Journal of the American Medical Association routinely publishes "Patient Pages" as a public service. These pages can be photocopied noncommercially by health care professionals to share with patients.
• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2008 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Committee 
• ACTION Registry™ - The ACTION (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network) Registry™ measures outcomes of STEMI and NSTEMI patients, and combines data collection and quality reporting features of two leading national ACS registries: NRMI and CRUSADE.
• United States Department of Health and Human Services Hospital Compare Quality Tool - This tool provides comparative quality information on hospitals by geographic area.  Information about how often hospitals provided recommended treatment for heart attack and other conditions, and hospital mortality rates for heart attack and heart failure is available.
  
• Cardinal Health Implementing NPSG 3E Resources - These resources have been prepared by members of the Clinical Affairs and the Quality and Regulatory Affairs teams to assist Cardinal Health pharmacy managers in meeting The Joint Commission’s standards for National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 3E. The resources are posted for free public access.
• ASHP Anticoagulation Resource Center

Organizations

• American Heart Association
• American College of Cardiology
• American College of Chest Physicians

Meetings

• American Heart Association
• American College of Cardiology
• American College of Chest Physicians

VTE Resources

Guidelines

• NEW! The Eighth ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: Evidence-Based Guidelines. Subscription to Chest required.
• The Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: Evidence-Based Guidelines

Standards/ Performance Measures

• Joint Commission 2008 National Patient Safety Goals - Joint Commission 2008 National Patient Safety Goals have been issued. Goal 3E to "Reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy" was added.
• National Consensus Standards for Prevention and Care of Venous Thromboembolism - Joint project between The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF), initiated in 2004, to develop and standardize performance measures for the prevention and care of venous thromboembolism.
• Surgical Care Improvement Project - The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) is a national quality partnership of organizations focused on improving surgical care by significantly reducing surgical complications. SCIP targets four areas, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Sample Protocols

• University of Washington Medical Center Anticoagulation Services

Other Resources

• NEW! The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism - announced on September 15, 2008.
• Anticoagulation Forum - The Anticoagulation Forum is a network of health care professionals committed to the therapy of thromboembolic disorders predominantly through the venue of anticoagulation management service. Through exchange of information, medical education, and scientific investigation, the Forum promotes professional development and the enhancement of the quality of anticoagulation care.
• ClotCare Online Resource - ClotCare strives to help others improve lives by providing both patients and healthcare providers with the most up-to-date information and expert insight on optimal use of antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapy.
• Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis - This site has multiple patient information tools, including a risk assessment and signs and symptoms of DVT.
• Cardinal Health Implementing NPSG 3E Resources - These resources have been prepared by members of the Clinical Affairs and the Quality and Regulatory Affairs teams to assist Cardinal Health pharmacy managers in meeting The Joint Commission’s standards for National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 3E. The resources are posted for free public access.
• Quality Improvement Initiative Resources – Quality Improvement News and Current ASHP advocacy initiatives on Quality and Medication Safety 
• JAMA Patient Page: Pulmonary Embolism (PDF)
• ASHP Anticoagulation Resource Center

Organizations

• American Heart Association
• American College of Cardiology
• International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Meetings

• American Heart Association
• International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
• American College of Cardiology