The impact of the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) computerized alert on provider behaviors and patient outcomes

Objective

The aim of this study was to measure the effect of an electronic heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) alert on provider ordering behaviors and on patient outcomes.

Materials and Methods

A pop-up alert was created for providers when an individual''s platelet values had decreased by 50% or to <100 000/mm³ in the setting of recent heparin exposure. The authors retrospectively compared inpatients admitted between January 24, 2008 and August 24, 2008 to a control group admitted 1 year prior to the HIT alert. The primary outcome was a change in HIT antibody testing. Secondary outcomes included an assessment of incidence of HIT antibody positivity, percentage of patients started on a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), length of stay and overall mortality.

Results

There were 1006 and 1081 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. There was a 33% relative increase in HIT antibody test orders (p=0.01), and 33% more of these tests were ordered the first day after the criteria were met when a pop-up alert was given (p=0.03). Heparin was discontinued in 25% more patients in the alerted group (p=0.01), and more direct thrombin inhibitors were ordered for them (p=0.03). The number who tested HIT antibody-positive did not differ, however, between the two groups (p=0.99). The length of stay and mortality were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

The HIT alert significantly impacted provider behaviors. However, the alert did not result in more cases of HIT being detected or an improvement in overall mortality. Our findings do not support implementation of a computerized HIT alert.     

Empowering physicians with health information technology: An empirical investigation in Chinese hospitals

ObjectiveFew studies examine physicians’ use of different features of health information technology (HIT) in relation to their psychological empowerment and stress, especially in China, where many hospitals are being pushed to share digitized medical information. Further, there are mixed findings about the impact of HIT on stress, with some studies suggesting that HIT increases stress and others suggesting no effect. Hence, there is a need for a nuanced view of HITs to incorporate different features, regions, and outcomes. This work seeks to extend the existing body of knowledge on HIT by assessing the effects of basic (data-related) and advanced (clinical) HIT features on physician empowerment, stress, and ultimately, job satisfaction in Chinese hospitals.Materials and MethodsWe surveyed 367 physicians at 5 class 3 hospitals (ie, regional hospitals that provide specialist medical and healthcare services and carry out high levels of teaching and scientific research tasks) in 5 provinces in China. We specified and estimated a structural equation model using partial least squares.ResultsPhysicians who used advanced features experienced improvement in all dimensions of physician empowerment and significant reduction in stress. Physicians who used basic technology, however, experienced improvement in fewer dimensions of physician empowerment and no significant change in stress. Except for efficacy, all dimensions of physician empowerment and stress predicted job satisfaction.ConclusionsHealthcare professionals should assess the purpose of HIT features and expect different effects on intermediate and ultimate outcomes. The nuanced view of HIT features and processes leading to outcomes sheds light on their differential effects and resolves inconsistencies in prior findings on HIT effects.     

顺势而行——美国HIT如何迎接大数据时代的来临

从正视大数据、认识大数据、衡量大数据、追赶大数据、分析大数据、把握大数据几方面,阐述美国卫生信息技术(Health Information Technology,HIT)在大数据来临时代的反应与应对措施,以期对我国卫生信息领域大数据的发展与应用提供借鉴.     

HIT Implementation in Critical Access Hospitals: Extent of Implementation and Business Strategies Supporting IT Use

Small rural hospitals face considerable financial and personnel resource shortages which hinder their efforts to implement complex health information technology (HIT) systems. A survey on the use of HIT was completed by 85% of Iowa’s 82 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Analyses indicate that low IT staffing in CAHs is a barrier to implementing HIT solutions. CAHs with fewer staff tend to employ alternative business strategies. There is a clear relationship between having IT staff at a CAH and the types of technologies used. Many CAHs report having difficulty expanding upon HIT functionalities due to the challenges of finding IT staff with healthcare expertise. Most CAHs are in the transition point of planning for or beginning implementation of complex clinical information systems. Strategies for addressing these challenges will need to evolve as the HIT investments by rural hospitals race to keep pace with the goals for the nation.     

Anticipating and addressing the unintended consequences of health IT and policy: a report from the AMIA 2009 Health Policy Meeting

Federal legislation (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act) has provided funds to support an unprecedented increase in health information technology (HIT) adoption for healthcare provider organizations and professionals throughout the U.S. While recognizing the promise that widespread HIT adoption and meaningful use can bring to efforts to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare, the American Medical Informatics Association devoted its 2009 Annual Health Policy Meeting to consideration of unanticipated consequences that could result with the increased implementation of HIT. Conference participants focused on possible unintended and unanticipated, as well as undesirable, consequences of HIT implementation. They employed an input–output model to guide discussion on occurrence of these consequences in four domains: technical, human/cognitive, organizational, and fiscal/policy and regulation. The authors outline the conference''s recommendations: (1) an enhanced research agenda to guide study into the causes, manifestations, and mitigation of unintended consequences resulting from HIT implementations; (2) creation of a framework to promote sharing of HIT implementation experiences and the development of best practices that minimize unintended consequences; and (3) recognition of the key role of the Federal Government in providing leadership and oversight in analyzing the effects of HIT-related implementations and policies.     

肾综合征出血热病毒血凝素单克隆抗体的建立与鉴定

用HFRSV血凝素免疫BALB/c小鼠,取脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞融合,共获得56株分泌抗HFRSV McAb的杂交瘤细胞系。对其中10株细胞系应用血凝抑制试验证明有9株为特异性分泌抗HFRSV血凝素McAb的杂交瘤细胞系。应用微量细胞培养中和试验证明6株具有中和活性。z株(3D_8和3G_1)具有高滴度的血凝抑制活性和中和活性。10株HFRSV血凝素McAb均能与从不同疫区,不同宿主分离的HFRSV反应,说明HFRSV血凝素具有群共同性。     

对健康信息技术试验用于中低收入国家呼吸系统疾病管理的建议:从高收入国家可以学到什么？

 当人类的健康系统面临来自于医疗资源和经济等多方面的挑战时,健康信息技术(health information technology,HIT)有时可以帮助我们解决问题。然而,关于广泛应用HIT的相关证据仍不全面。中低收入国家的医疗基础设施和医疗保健水平相对薄弱,因此我们希望能从有着良好医疗保健基础的发达国家获取在呼吸病领域的应用经验,总结其失败的教训,为如何使HIT应用利益最大化提供建议。高收入地区研究应用HIT给我们的启示就是应在疾病负担适当的人群中开展低成本且技术成熟的研究,同时仔细评估其安全性。     

Health information technology: fallacies and sober realities

Current research suggests that the rate of adoption of health information technology (HIT) is low, and that HIT may not have the touted beneficial effects on quality of care or costs. The twin issues of the failure of HIT adoption and of HIT efficacy stem primarily from a series of fallacies about HIT. We discuss 12 HIT fallacies and their implications for design and implementation. These fallacies must be understood and addressed for HIT to yield better results. Foundational cognitive and human factors engineering research and development are essential to better inform HIT development, deployment, and use.     

肝素诱导的血小板减少症的临床观察

目的 分析静脉血栓栓塞症肝素诱导的血小板减少症及其治疗.方法 对我院2006年5月至2008年5月临床确诊并以肝素抗凝治疗的静脉血栓栓塞症患者202例进行临床分析,定期监测血常规.结果 其中有6例患者发生肝素诱导的血小板减少症,在应用肝素第3～9天出现血小板数目下降,发生率为2.97%,其下降率为60.4%～82.2%.对需要继续抗凝的4例患者停用肝素后改为阿加曲班继续治疗,第3～7天血小板数目回升至入院时水平.结论 在使用肝素进行抗凝治疗期间,应常规监测血小板数目变化,如发现血小板数目进行性下降大于50%,应及时停用肝素,需继续抗凝的患者可改用阿加曲班治疗.     

Phased implementation of electronic health records through an office of clinical transformation

Evidence suggests that when carefully implemented, health information technologies (HIT) have a positive impact on behavior, as well as operational, process, and clinical outcomes. Recent economic stimulus initiatives have prompted unprecedented federal investment in HIT. Despite strong interest from the healthcare delivery community to achieve ‘meaningful use’ of HIT within a relatively short time frame, few best-practice implementation methodologies have been described. Herein we outline HIT implementation strategies at an academic health center with an office of clinical transformation. Seven percent of the medical center''s information technology budget was dedicated to the Office of Clinical Transformation, and successful conversion of 1491 physicians to electronic-based documentation was accomplished. This paper outlines the process re-design, end-user adoption, and practice transformation strategies that resulted in a 99.7% adoption rate within 6 months of the introduction of digital documentation.     

床旁头脉冲实验阳性结果的前庭疾病病因分析

目的 研究床旁头脉冲实验阳性(head impulse test,HIT)患者的前庭系统疾病的病因构成.方法 连续纳入我院神经内科门诊收治的105例HIT阳性的患者.根据临床特点、眩晕床旁检查、前庭功能检查和影像学检查的结果,综合分析HIT阳性的病因构成.结果 105例HIT阳性患者中,单侧HIT阳性78例,双侧HIT阳性27例;前庭外周性疾病76例(72％),包括前庭神经炎35例,双侧前庭病13例,梅尼埃病12例,突发性耳聋伴眩晕7例,前庭神经鞘瘤4例,迟发性膜迷路积水4例,上半规管裂1例.前庭中枢性疾病15例(14％),包括后循环梗死5例,多发性硬化4例,颅底畸形3例,多系统萎缩2例,脑干肿瘤1例,未明确病因者14例(13％).15例HIT阳性的前庭中枢性疾病患者头颅MR均提示异常,其中11例呈双侧HIT阳性,出现神经系统缺损症状者12例,中枢性眼震6例,视跟踪异常4例,凝视性眼震4例,眼偏斜实验阳性2例,前庭自旋转试验提示前庭中枢性异常13例.结论 HIT实验阳性多数提示前庭外周性疾病.HIT实验阳性不能完全排除前庭中枢性疾病,尤其是双侧HIT阳性,需结合其他的临床资料进行综合分析.     

HIT抗体检测对血小板减少症的临床诊断意义

目的探讨HIT抗体在肝素诱导的血小板减少症(HIT)中的诊断价值,使其作为1项有价值的指标,较早诊断HIT,减少HITTS的发生。方法选择2007-02~2007-12间,随机连续观察在哈尔滨医科大学第二临床医学院血管外科应用普通肝素治疗的46例住院患者。结果实验组中HIT抗体阳性例数为21例,对照组HIT抗体阳性例数为2例。实验组中有7例患者血小板减少(血小板下降范围25%~53.4%),且HIT抗体阳性,该7例患者后经功能性检查确诊为HIT患者。结论HIT抗体检测的实验敏感性较高,且不涉及放射性,操作简单。该方法可在实验室开展,与血小板计数检测结合可对应用肝素的患者进行初筛,防止HITTS的发生。     

心脏手术患者围术期肝素诱导的血小板减少症

目的：了解心脏手术患者围术期肝素诱导的血小板减少症(heparin-induced thrombocytopenia,HIT)发生率 及其抗体阳性率,探索HIT发病及其抗体产生的影响因素。方法：检测连续的315例心脏手术病例手术前后血小板计 数、HIT抗体、血小板因子4(platelet factor 4,PF4)。按4Ts评分诊断HIT。按性别、年龄、病种等分别统计发生率及其 抗体阳性率并分析影响因素。结果：HIT发生率3.5%(11/315),HIT抗体阳性率36.5%(115/315)。其中冠心病患者HIT 发生率(17.1%)高于心脏瓣膜病患者(1.9%,P<0.05)和先天性心脏病患者(0.8%,P<0.05)。先天性心脏病患者HIT抗体阳 性率(51.7%)高于心脏瓣膜病患者(30.5%,P<0.05),心脏瓣膜病患者HIT抗体阳性率高于冠心病患者(14.6%,P<0.05)。 HIT患者术后严重并发症发生率(36.4%)高于非HIT患者(10.5%,P<0.05)。Logistic回归示HIT发病的影响因素为年龄, HIT抗体产生的影响因素有年龄和体外循环。结论：心脏手术患者围术期HIT发生率较低,但易产生严重并发症,致 残致死率高,应警惕HIT发病的危险因素。     

Successful Treatment of Severe Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia with Intravenous Immunoglobulin,Platelet Transfusion and Rivaroxaban: A Case Report

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a relatively infrequent complication of heparin administration. HIT can cause devastating thrombosis, making it one of the most serious adverse drug reactions encountered in clinical practice. We successfully treated a case of severe HIT presenting with thrombosis and life-threatening bleeding complications with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), platelet transfusion and oral anticoagulant Rivaroxaban. In this case, we considered that IVIG played the most important role by preventing further thrombosis, increasing the platelet count, and ensuring the efficacy of Rivaroxaban. We therefore suggest that IVIG might be the optimal treatment for patients with this urgent condition.     

Alternative diagnosis to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in two critically ill patients despite a positive PF4/heparin-antibody test

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia can cause diagnostic challenges in patients who have received heparin. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is often considered in the differential diagnosis, and a positive screening can be mistaken as confirmation of the disorder. We present two patients who both received low-molecular-weight heparin for several days. In the first patient, clinical judgment rejected the suspicion of HIT despite a positive screening assay, and treatment for the alternative diagnosis of post-transfusion purpura was correctly initiated. In the second patient, the inaccurate diagnosis HIT was pursued due to a positive screening assay, while the alternative diagnosis of drug-dependent thrombocytopenia caused by piperacillin/tazobactam was rejected. This resulted in re-exposure to piperacillin/tazobactam which caused a second episode of severe thrombocytopenia. A positive screening assay for platelet factor 4/heparin-antibody should be verified by a functional assay, especially in patients with low pretest probability for HIT.     

Unintended Consequences of Information Technologies in Health Care—An Interactive Sociotechnical Analysis

Many unintended and undesired consequences of Healthcare Information Technologies (HIT) flow from interactions between the HIT and the healthcare organization’s sociotechnical system—its workflows, culture, social interactions, and technologies. This paper develops and illustrates a conceptual model of these processes that we call Interactive Sociotechnical Analysis (ISTA). ISTA captures common types of interaction with special emphasis on recursive processes, i.e., feedback loops that alter the newly introduced HIT and promote second-level changes in the social system. ISTA draws on prior studies of unintended consequences, along with research in sociotechnical systems, ergonomics, social informatics, technology-in-practice, and social construction of technology. We present five types of sociotechnical interaction and illustrate each with cases from published research. The ISTA model should further research on emergent and recursive processes in HIT implementation and their unintended consequences. Familiarity with the model can also foster practitioners’ awareness of unanticipated consequences that only become evident during HIT implementation.     

以静脉肢体坏疽为特点的静脉血栓栓塞症并肝素诱导性血小板减少症的中西医结合治疗一例报道

肝素诱导性血小板减少症（HIT）和静脉肢体坏疽（VLG）是静脉血栓栓塞症（VTE）的罕见并发症，致死率、致残率较高。现报告1例以VLG为特点的VTE并发HIT的病例，在中西医结合治疗下取得了较为满意的治疗效果，以期为临床医师治疗此类疾病提供参考。     

快速微粒凝胶免疫测定法与酶联免疫吸附测定法检测HIT抗体的临床应用比较

目的比较快速微粒免疫凝胶法（PaGIA）和酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测HIT抗体在诊断肝素诱导的血小板减少症（HIT）中的应用。方法选取应用肝素制剂患者197例,男性120例、女性77例,根据4 Ts评分系统临床诊断HIT,所有患者均应用ELISA法进行HIT抗体检测,对ELISA法检测阳性及出现血小板减少的患者再次应用PaGIA法进行检测,并对两次HIT抗体检测结果进行比较。结果 4 Ts评分临床诊断HIT患者6例,两种检测方法分别检测出5例抗体阳性。24例ELISA法检测阳性患者中的19例非HIT患者,应用PaGIA法再次检测仅有3例阳性。结论4 Ts评分系统仍是目前临床诊断HIT的重要依据,联合HIT抗体检测可提高确诊和除外HIT诊断的准确性。PaGIA法检测HIT抗体与临床符合度更高,优于ELISA法。     

Treating heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The unconventional way!

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia HIT is a potentially devastating complication of heparin therapy. The severe form of HIT has been associated with both venous and arterial thrombosis manifested by myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular occlusion, skin necrosis or limb ischemia. Several agents are now available as alternatives to heparin in patients with suspected HIT, including the thrombin specific inhibitors lepirudin and argatroban as well as the low molecular weight heparinoid known as danaparoid. When lacking these agents, here we report the use of plasmapheresis to create an artificial state of anticoagulation; exchanging patient's plasma with albumin rather than fresh frozen plasma, to allow the safe introduction of warfarin.