To work best, clinical decision support tools (CDS) must be timed to provide support when healthcare decisions are made, which includes virtual visits (phone or video). Unfortunately, most CDS tools are either missing from virtual visits or not designed for the unique context of virtual visits (e.g., availability of physical assessments and labs, different workflows), which could generate new inequities for patients more likely to use virtual visits. The objective of this study is to test the reach, feasibility and acceptability of a new CDS tool for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) during virtual visits. This new CDS tool was developed through an iterative design process, and will be compared to an existing HFrEF CDS tool in a randomized pilot study at outpatient cardiology clinics throughout the UCHealth system.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
20
The new, iteratively designed clinical decision support tool includes the traditional CDS along with links to supportive tipsheets, which include one for providers on how to add an order for patients to upload vitals in their electronic health record, and one that walks patients through how to upload vitals on their own.
The traditional CDS tool is the usual care intervention, and does not include links to tipsheets to support virtual patient care.
UCHealth Primary Care and Cardiology Outpatient Clinics
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Number of CDS alerts resulting in the prescription of a recommended medication
The primary outcome is number of CDS alerts that resulted in the prescription of the medication recommended by the CDS alert. Recommended medications include either evidence-based beta blockers, sacubitril/valsartan, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists or sodium/glucose cotransport 2 inhibitors. Prescriptions will be based on actual prescription orders instead of clinician-stated responses, given the latter may overestimate effectiveness.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of patients the CDS alerted for
This outcome evaluates the reach of the CDS by counting the number of patients that the CDS alerted for.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of times a prescriber ordered at-home vitals
This outcome will count the number of times a prescriber orders patients to take their vitals at home after being exposed to the CDS tool.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of patients who upload their vitals in the patient portal
This outcome will count the number of patients who upload their vitals into the electronic medical record.
Time frame: 9 months
Number of alerts that were not outright dismissed
This outcome will help investigators understand if the CDS id being used or dismissed.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of prescription orders for guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure
This outcome measures the number of prescriptions for each of the four categories of GDMT: evidence-based beta blockers, sacubitril/valsartan, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists or sodium/glucose cotransport 2 inhibitors.
Time frame: 6 months
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