title: Use of prothrombin complex concentrate in warfarin anticoagulation reversal in the emergency department: a quality improvement study of administration delays.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quick reversal of warfarin anticoagulation is important in life threatening bleeding. The aim of this study is to improve the administration delay when using Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (PCC) for the emergent reversal of warfarin anticoagulation in the emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audit and feedback quality improvement project was conducted in three phases: a retrospective audit phase, an analysis and feedback phase and prospective evaluation phase. The charts of all eligible patients in a single Emergency Department (ED) in Québec, Canada, who received PCC since the introduction of this product in 2009 until October 31, 2011, were retrospectively audited. The administration delay of PCC was calculated from the time of prescription to the time of administration. With the data, we determined where improvements could be attained, and jointly with all stakeholders in the ED and the blood bank, we created an action plan to ensure the timely administration of PCC. The action plan was then implemented and a six-month prospective evaluation study was conducted to determine any improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven charts were reviewed in the retrospective chart audit. The mean administration delay was 73.6 minutes (STD [34.1]) with a median of 70.0 minutes (25-75% IQR [45.0-95.0]). We found that this delay was principally due to the following barriers: communication problems between the ED and the blood bank as well as delivery inefficiencies. An action plan that involved a flowchart to remind all clinicians how to order PCC and a new delivery method from the blood bank to the ED were developed. During the 6 months following the implementation of our action plan, 39 patients received PCC and the mean administration time decreased to 33.2 minutes (STD [14.2])(p < .0001) with a median of 30.0 minutes (25-75% IQR [24.3-38.8]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By implementing an action plan comprising of a flowchart and a new delivery process, this audit and feedback quality improvement project reduced the administration time of PCC by more than half. Future studies to measure the impact of a similar audit and feedback process involving an action plan in other centers should be conducted before this type of quality improvement process is implemented on wider scale.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Training Program, Département de médecine familiale et médecine d'urgence, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. simon.bordeleau.1@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bordeleau
authors.affiliation: Centre de santé et de services sociaux Alphonse-Desjardins (Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Lévis), Lévis, QC, Canada. Julien.Poitras@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Département de médecine familiale et médecine d'urgence, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Julien.Poitras@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poitras
authors.affiliation: Centre de santé et de services sociaux Alphonse-Desjardins (Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Lévis), Lévis, QC, Canada. Daniele.Marceau@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Blood bank director, Quebec, Province of Quebec, Région 12, Canada. Daniele.Marceau@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marceau
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Safety Officer, Quebec, Province of Quebec, Région 12, Canada. carolle_breton@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Carolle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.affiliation: Centre de santé et de services sociaux Alphonse-Desjardins (Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Lévis), Lévis, QC, Canada. pierre.beaupre@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Département de médecine familiale et médecine d'urgence, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. pierre.beaupre@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beaupré
authors.affiliation: Centre de santé et de services sociaux Alphonse-Desjardins (Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Lévis), Lévis, QC, Canada. Patrick.m.archambault@gmail.com.|Département de médecine familiale et médecine d'urgence, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Patrick.m.archambault@gmail.com.|Division de soins intensifs, Département d'anesthésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Patrick.m.archambault@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Archambault
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D011792:Quebec; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D014859:Warfarin