Quality indicators for patients presenting to emergency departments with cerebrovascular events: A chart review and prospective study of transient ischemic attacks and stroke within the Alberta Health Services-Edmonton Zone

• Author / Creator

  Pasichnyk, Dion W

• This thesis presents the results from a retrospective chart review of medical records and a prospective patient interview of stroke patients within the AHS Edmonton-Zone emergency departments. Of 7330 charts reviewed, 17% had a diagnosis other than stroke/TIA (misclassified). Of the 336 patients interviewed, standardized questionnaires significantly outperformed ED charting for documentation of timing of symptom onset, location of stroke event, and smoking histories. Analysis of quality of care indicators (QCI) demonstrated that the AHS-Edmonton Zone EDs performed variably when treating stroke; however, they failed to meet nationally accepted benchmarks for all critical time requirements. QCIs are merely a mechanism to evaluate performance and stimulate change within clinical settings; however, they also have the potential to generate new ideas and directions regarding how management (e.g., stroke) can be improved. Robust performance evaluation and feedback can identify areas for improvements and drive clinical care change.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Emergency
  • Stroke
  • Quality

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3ZW41

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.