Physician Compliance (physician + compliance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Physician compliance with advanced electronic alerts for preventing venous thromboembolism among hospitalized medical patients

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 8 2009
N. KUCHER
Summary.,Background: Worldwide, more than half of the hospitalized medical patients at high risk do not receive venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. Although VTE among hospitalized patients at risk is reduced with electronic alerts (eAlerts), the majority of eAlerts are being ignored by the responsible physician. Methods: We investigated physician compliance with an advanced eAlert system in 1027 (age 59 ± 17 years) hospitalized medical patients. A continuously flashing non-interruptive eAlert, visible to all healthcare professionals, was issued in the electronic patient chart 6 h after admission if the physician did not order prophylaxis. Results: The rate of appropriate prophylaxis increased from 44% before to 76% after the implementation of the eAlert system. Although the patients whose physicians cared for , 20 patients during the study period had a more frequent physician response to the eAlert than patients whose physicians cared for fewer patients (69% vs. 40%, P < 0.001), they received appropriate prophylaxis less often (72% vs. 81%, P = 0.016). After adjustment for significant patient predictors of appropriate prophylaxis, including cancer, age, duration of hospital stay, and thrombocytopenia, patients whose physicians cared for , 20 patients during the study period were less likely to receive appropriate prophylaxis (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.44,0.96; P = 0.032) than patients whose physicians cared for fewer patients. Conclusions: The introduction of an advanced eAlert system accompanied by continuing medical education for the prevention of VTE resulted in a substantial increase in the rate of appropriate prophylaxis among hospitalized medical patients. However, many eAlerts may cause decreased physician compliance owing to ,alert fatigue'. [source]


Connecting patient needs with treatment management

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2009
R. Kerwin
Objective:, To propose ideas for the development of a core strategy for monitoring patients with schizophrenia to ensure physical health and optimal treatment provision. Method:, A panel of European experts in the field of schizophrenia met in Bordeaux in June 2006 to discuss, ,Patient management optimisation through improved treatment monitoring.' Results:, Key consensus from the discussion deemed that weight gain, oral health and ECG parameters were core baseline parameters to be monitored in all patients with schizophrenia. Further, an identification of a patient's own barriers to treatment alongside local health service strategies might comprise elements of an individualised management strategy which would contribute to optimisation of treatment. Any monitoring strategy should be kept simple to encourage physician compliance. Conclusion:, A practical solution to the difficulties of providing holistic patient care would be to suggest a limited set of physical parameters to be monitored by physicians on a regular basis. [source]


Physician compliance with advanced electronic alerts for preventing venous thromboembolism among hospitalized medical patients

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 8 2009
N. KUCHER
Summary.,Background: Worldwide, more than half of the hospitalized medical patients at high risk do not receive venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. Although VTE among hospitalized patients at risk is reduced with electronic alerts (eAlerts), the majority of eAlerts are being ignored by the responsible physician. Methods: We investigated physician compliance with an advanced eAlert system in 1027 (age 59 ± 17 years) hospitalized medical patients. A continuously flashing non-interruptive eAlert, visible to all healthcare professionals, was issued in the electronic patient chart 6 h after admission if the physician did not order prophylaxis. Results: The rate of appropriate prophylaxis increased from 44% before to 76% after the implementation of the eAlert system. Although the patients whose physicians cared for , 20 patients during the study period had a more frequent physician response to the eAlert than patients whose physicians cared for fewer patients (69% vs. 40%, P < 0.001), they received appropriate prophylaxis less often (72% vs. 81%, P = 0.016). After adjustment for significant patient predictors of appropriate prophylaxis, including cancer, age, duration of hospital stay, and thrombocytopenia, patients whose physicians cared for , 20 patients during the study period were less likely to receive appropriate prophylaxis (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.44,0.96; P = 0.032) than patients whose physicians cared for fewer patients. Conclusions: The introduction of an advanced eAlert system accompanied by continuing medical education for the prevention of VTE resulted in a substantial increase in the rate of appropriate prophylaxis among hospitalized medical patients. However, many eAlerts may cause decreased physician compliance owing to ,alert fatigue'. [source]


Physician peer assessments for compliance with methadone maintenance treatment guidelines

THE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS, Issue 4 2007
Carol Strike PhD
Abstract Introduction: Medical associations and licensing bodies face pressure to implement quality assurance programs, but evidence-based models are lacking. To improve the quality of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Canada, conducts an innovative quality assurance program on the basis of peer assessments. Using data from this program, we assessed physician compliance with MMT guidelines and determined whether physician factors (e.g., training, years of practice), practice type, practice location, and/or caseload is associated with MMT guideline adherence. Methods: Secondary analysis of methadone practice assessment data collected by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Canada. Assessment data from methadone prescribing physicians who completed their first year of methadone practice were analyzed. We calculated the mean percentage compliance per guideline per physician and global compliance across all guidelines per physician. Linear regression was used to assess factors associated with compliance. Results: Data from 149 physician practices and 1,326 patient charts were analyzed. Compliance across all charts was greater than 90% for most areas of care. Compliance was less than 90% for take-home medication procedures; urine toxicology screening; screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, other sexually transmitted infections, and completion of a psychosocial assessment. Mean global compliance across all charts and guidelines per physician was 94.3% (standard deviation = 7.4%) with a range of 70% to 100%. Linear regression analysis revealed that only year of medical school graduation was a significant predictor of physician compliance. Discussion: This is the first report of MMT peer assessments in Canada. Compliance is high. Few countries conduct similar assessment processes; none report physician-level results. We cannot quantify the contribution of peer assessment, training, or self-selection to the compliance rates, but compared to other areas of practice these rates suggest that peer assessment may exert a significant effect on compliance. A similar assessment process may in other areas of clinical practice improve physician compliance. [source]


Weekly E-mail Reminders Influence Emergency Physician Behavior: A Case Study Using the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Pneumonia Guidelines

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2009
Scott G. Weiner MD
Abstract Objectives:, Improving physician compliance with evidence-based guidelines is challenging. The authors wanted to determine if weekly e-mail reminders to emergency department (ED) staff increase compliance with Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) community-acquired pneumonia quality measures. Methods:, One nurse administrator reviewed records on a weekly basis for all adult patients admitted to the hospital from the ED with a working diagnosis of pneumonia. An e-mail was then sent to all ED staff indicating the percentage of patients with antibiotic timing less than 4 hours from arrival. The names of individuals who administered antibiotics in less than 1 hour were highlighted. This study compared the time to antibiotics for 11 months before and 11 months after commencing this intervention. Results:, There were 281 patients in the control cohort, and 37 met exclusion criteria, leaving 244 for analysis. There were 342 patients in the intervention cohort, and 40 met exclusion criteria, leaving 302 for analysis. The median time from arrival to chest radiograph order decreased significantly from 61 to 47 minutes (p < 0.001). The median time interval from chest radiograph order to antibiotic administration did not change significantly (92 to 88 minutes, p = 0.294). The overall median time from arrival to antibiotic administration decreased significantly from 162 to 146 minutes (p = 0.018). The percentage of patients with antibiotic administration within 4 hours increased from 77.5% to 86.1% (p = 0.009). Conclusions:, Weekly e-mail reminders listing performance on antibiotic administration recommendations are associated with increased compliance with a clinical guideline. [source]