Every second counts in the treatment of a heart attack. d2i’s data analysis can help EDs streamline their processes to save precious time.
Data analysis can mean better patient outcomes and help in the STEMI accreditation process.
Despite advances in care, heart disease is still the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Often, these deaths are due to acute heart attack, or in medical terminology, ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Health care organizations that have implemented evidence-based care tactics to improve the speed and outcomes of STEMI treatment often seek one or more of the following specialized accreditations:
- Mission: Lifeline STEMI Referring and Receiving Accreditations from the American Heart Association
- Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) Program from The Joint Commission
- Operation STEMI Care and Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology from the American College of Cardiology
Within these certification areas, there are levels of expertise, often based on the size and number of resources a facility has for STEMI care. As part of the accreditation process, organizations undergo rigorous quality-improvement activities, reporting detailed information about each STEMI case to one or more data registries.
Beyond the obvious clinical value for patients, accreditation has value for health care organizations. In this era of value-based care, declining emergency department (ED) visits, and shift to outpatient care, demonstrating quality and distinction is an important strategy for success, particularly for EDs. In an ever-changing health care environment, becoming known for a specialized program that demonstrates best-in-class care is one way for hospitals and EDs to stay viable.
Data Drives the Process
STEMI care is very time-sensitive and many factors must be analyzed to cut precious minutes from treatment time. It requires careful orchestration among physicians, EMS, dispatch, the ED, and lab staff.
On the journey to accreditation and beyond, cardiac teams have to navigate reams of data from various systems — EHRs, ED charting, testing, cardiac cath lab documentation, EKG results, vital signs, treatment times, and more. This data is entered into national data registries, benchmarked against peer organizations, and tracked for improvements.
National registries also are the foundation of many research studies, and yield insights that are used to constantly improve care. For example, in November 2020, the ACC published a study on the impact of COVID-19 on STEMI, which was possible due to historical and current data constantly being collected all over the country.
Who Collects the Data?
Busy clinicians often are tasked with data collection for accreditation, simply because of the level of knowledge it requires to interpret specifications and fulfill data abstraction requirements. But, because clinicians are busy with patient care, data collection often is not prioritized.
This is where d2i can play an instrumental role by collecting historical and current performance data, then drilling down to each step of the STEMI treatment path and finding areas for improvement. d2i software picks up where the EHR leaves off, aggregating, segmenting, and curating data into its most useful form.
Clinical teams can now arm themselves with the tools needed to do their best work. They can create action plans for streamlining processes, with each moment saving precious heart function. d2i handles the data detective work, while the STEMI team does what it does best every day: beating the STEMI clock and saving lives.
If your hospital or ED is preparing for STEMI accreditation, d2i can help you measure required outcomes and promote quality initiatives for heart attack patients. Contact our team to learn about all of the ways our software can help you improve performance, or to request a demo.