Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Second QI Summit to be held at AHA Meeting
By Julie McKeel

Improving the quality of health care is high on the list for payers, providers, and patients alike. Recent outcomes studies show a marked gap between guideline recommendations and actual patient care, while registries show a link between patient outcome and guideline adherence, supporting the movement toward payment for outcomes.

The Second International Quality Improvement Summit on Acute Coronary Syndromes will seek to address these and other issues related to quality improvement and outcomes. The summit will be held on November 8, 2004, in New Orleans, in conjunction with the 2004 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. Rob Califf, Director of the DCRI, will co-chair this event with colleague Sidney C. Smith, Jr., Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The DCRI’s Dr. Matt Roe will provide the opening remarks while Dr. Eric Peterson and Dr. Califf will participate in the debate and panel discussion.

International speakers will focus on recent advances in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which include unstable angina and heart attacks. Other topics to be covered include the guidelines process, quality indicators, best practice in hospitals and clinics, and the use of quality scorecards as they relate to improving the care of patients with ACS.

This event is geared toward cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospital administrators, and quality improvement personnel interested in improving the care of patients with ACS.

Summit attendees will develop strategies to evaluate recent advances in ACS care, apply best practices to achieve quality care in acute coronary syndromes, and recognize how improved outcomes are linked to quality care. Participants will have opportunities to discuss the issues surrounding public reporting of outcomes and to develop supportive collaborations among quality improvement initiatives.

The Duke University School of Medicine and the American Heart Association are cosponsoring this event. For more information, and to register for continuing medical education credit, please visit www.qisummit.com.