Definition of performance metrics and methods for screening for sudden cardiac arrest risk at a tertiary care medical center.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the results of manual and automatic electronic medical record-based screening of patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) based on measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Methods: Counseling regarding SCA risk and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is underutilized in patients with reduced LVEF. We developed and implemented an electronic medical record (EMR)-based system for screening of such patients to improve care. In phase one, manual screening of electronic records and LVEF databases was initially performed by trained cardiac device nurses. In phase two, records were screened automatically by a customized program, and candidate patient records were sent to cardiac device nurses for final review and disposition.
Results: In phase one, 2,531 patients with LVEF ≤35% were identified over 398 days. Manual EMR review showed that 1,918 patients (76%) received appropriate counseling regarding SCA risk, received ICDs, or had disqualifying comorbidities. In phase two, 1,081 patients with LVEF ≤35% were identified after automatic screening of 44,672 echocardiograms and EMR over 251 days. Of these, 513 patients (58%) received appropriate counseling regarding SCA risk, received ICDs, or had disqualifying comorbidities.
Conclusions: These data detail the utilization of consultation regarding SCA risk and ICDs in patients with reduced LVEF at a tertiary care center with ready access to arrhythmia specialists. Notification of primary providers of reduced LVEF with recommendation for consultation was not effective in improving patient care.