FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Sep 21, 2000
SUBJECT: Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation
IPRO CONTACTS:
Veronica Pryor, B.S., Assistant Director, Project Data Collection, ext. 631, Monte Malach, M.D.,F.A.C.C., M.A.C.P.,Medical; Director/Clinical Coordinator,ext. 634, Marguerite Shaffer, C.P.H.Q., Director, Downstate Improvement Strategies, ext. 634 and Charles Stimler, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Coordinator, ext. 634
Enclosed please find a statewide report on "Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation". The purpose of this quality improvement project is to increase utilization of warfarin in eligible patients with atrial fibrillation with no contraindications.
IPRO has been working with physicians, providers and other health care personnel since 1994 to improve the use of anticoagulation therapy for eligible patients with atrial fibrillation. Although there has been improvement over the years, there still remains a significant number of patients who are not discharged on warfarin and have no documented contraindications.
The top one hundred high volume providers with a principal or secondary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation patients and their affiliated institutions which use the same Medicare provider number were identified and each will receive a hospital specific report on its individual baseline findings.