title: The use of a learning community and online evaluation of utilization for SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.
abstract: Resource-sensitive and quality-centered imaging begins with the selection of the appropriate patient and test. Appropriate use criteria have been developed to aid clinicians but are often not available in an easily accessible format. FOCUS (Formation of Optimal Cardiovascular Utilization Strategies), a Web-based community and quality improvement instrument, was developed to increase the feasibility of measuring and improving practice patterns based on the appropriate use criteria. The FOCUS instrument proposed to reduce inappropriate imaging by 15% in 1 year and by 50% within 3 years. Between April 2010 and December 2011, data were voluntarily collected through the FOCUS radionuclide imaging performance improvement module (PIM). Appropriateness rates were compared between phases of the PIM. For the 55 participating sites that had completed the PIM by December 2011, the proportion of inappropriate cases decreased from 10% to 5% (p < 0.0001). These preliminary data from initial participating sites suggest that through the use of a self-directed, quality improvement software and an interactive community, physicians may be able to significantly decrease the proportion of tests not meeting appropriate use criteria.
authors: American College of Cardiology, Cardiology Division, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Saifi
authors: Allen J
authors: AJ
authors: Taylor
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Allen
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hendel
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003663:Decision Trees; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D060756:Social Networking; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data