Newswise — NEW YORK (May 7, 2013) –A new risk assessment scorecard helped physicians significantly improve their ability to identify at-risk patients following childbirth and provide preventive treatment options for life-threatening blood clots, according to a study conducted by researchers at Montefiore Medical Center. At-risk patients with completed scorecards were 2.6 times more likely to receive preventive treatment to reduce serious clots, known as venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), than those who did not. The data were presented today in New Orleans at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

This study included three phases - the initial one evaluated completion of the scorecard in 140 patients followed by a two-month campaign to educate doctors about using the scorecard and then a second evaluation of 133 patients. The scorecard, which was created by Montefiore researchers, includes 16 risk criteria associated with VTE based on guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Instruction on how to use the scorecard was provided through interdisciplinary team rounds, Grand Rounds speakers, endorsement of the project from department leaders and “spot checks” with biweekly high-level metrics.

Overall, results showed a significant increase in scorecard completion following the educational campaign in at-risk patients (20% vs. 79%) and all patients (15.7% vs. 67.7%). Similar rates of increased risk of VTE were identified in both groups (31.4% vs. 28.6%).

“Pregnancy significantly increases a woman’s risk of VTE and the condition is one of the leading causes of mortality for these patients, making this study and the use of a scorecard to identify those at risk extremely important,” said Cynthia Chazotte, M.D., vice chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center, and professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. “We’re extremely pleased with the results of the study and we highly recommend that doctors use the scorecard with their postpartum patients.”

Additional researchers involved in this study from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health at Montefiore Medical Center, include Jill Berkin, M.D., Colleen Lee, R.N., Ellen Landsberger, M.D., Peter Bernstein, M.D. and Dena Goffman, M.D.

About Montefiore Medical Center As the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore is a premier academic medical center nationally renowned for its clinical excellence, scientific discovery and commitment to its community. Recognized among the top hospitals nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report, Montefiore provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care and educates the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is consistently named in U.S. News' "America's Best Children's Hospitals," and is second among those in the New York metro area. With four hospitals, 1,491 beds and 90,000 annual admissions, Montefiore is an integrated health system seamlessly linked by advanced technology. State-of-the-art primary and specialty care is provided through a network of more than 130 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. Montefiore's partnership with Einstein advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. The medical center derives its inspiration for excellence from its patients and community, and continues to be on the frontlines of developing innovative approaches to care. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org and www.montekids.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube

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CITATIONS

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 61st Annual Clinical Meeting (ACM) May 6, 2013