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Performance improvement in managed long-term care: improving warfarin medication management.
Donna Desmond1, Polina Kogan, Susan Underwood
1VNS CHOICE, New York, NY, USA. donna.desmond@vnsny.org
Home Healthcare Nurse
|March 13, 2009
Summary
Warfarin therapy in older adults poses bleeding risks. A performance initiative improved care through better monitoring, physician communication, and patient education, enhancing safety and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Oral anticoagulation, particularly warfarin, offers therapeutic benefits for select older adults.
- However, warfarin use in the elderly population is associated with an elevated risk of bleeding complications.
Observation:
- A managed long-term care program implemented a performance improvement initiative to enhance warfarin therapy management.
- The initiative focused on optimizing care processes for elderly members on warfarin.
Findings:
- Interventions led to significant improvements in key care outcomes.
- These included more frequent monitoring of the international normalized ratio (INR).
- Enhanced communication between healthcare providers and improved patient/caregiver education regarding warfarin therapy were also observed.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that targeted performance improvement initiatives can mitigate risks associated with warfarin in older adults.
- Optimized care management strategies can lead to better therapeutic outcomes and patient safety.
- This approach is valuable for managed long-term care settings serving elderly populations requiring anticoagulation.
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