Limitations of free-form-text diagnostic requisitions as a tool for evaluating adherence to appropriate use criteria for transthoracic echocardiography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Monitoring the adherence to Appropriateness Use Criteria (AUC) has been identified as an important component for the accreditation of echocardiography laboratories. Referral requisitions are a logical tool to rapidly determine the appropriateness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) referrals, however data is lacking. We investigated whether standard free-form-text TTE referral requisitions can be used to evaluate AUC adherence.

Methods

Consecutive TTE referral requisitions to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute echocardiography laboratory were reviewed over a four-week period. Indication on the requisition was matched with the relevant indication on the 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) AUC. Requisitions that did not provide sufficient

SUBMITTER: Banihashemi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4326475 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature