A new system to utilize the latest knowledge on care after heart attack is already yielding good results in US hospitals.

Doctors have never known more about drugs, tests and counseling that can help a patient have a good quality of life after a heart attack. But many patients do not receive the benefits of this new knowledge - because of lack of co-ordination of care or other inefficiencies.

The American College of Cardiology has been trying to close the gap between knowledge and practice. They have surveyed 33 hospitals in Michigan that put into place a system of standing orders, checklists, reminders and other devices to try to optimise the treatment plans for heart attack patients.

Studies of 1,892 patients treated before the new system and 2,065 treated afterward show that there have already been improvements. More patients are now getting cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin and diet and smoking cessation advice. As expected, the more elements of the system a hospital used, the greater the gain for the patient. But even where hospitals only adopted some parts of the system, there were still benefits. The greatest improvement is being seen in the prescription of cholesterol-lowering drugs and the provision of advice on a healthy lifestyle. Clearly there is still some way to go, but the studies reported suggest that the gap between knowledge and practice in heart patient care is beginning to narrow.

Source

American College of Cardiology Meeting 30th March 2003