A Quality Improvement Initiative to Optimize Follow-Up in the New England Area for Pediatric Patients With Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices.

Abstract

Background: The use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) continues to grow. Despite the presence of implanted hardware, patient compliance with in-clinic visits and remote transmissions is poor. We performed a quality improvement (QI) initiative to assess and optimize CIED follow-up in the New England area.

Methods: A regional network of eight pediatric institutions was created. All patients with CIEDs were identified starting in 2016. Noncompliance was defined as: no in-person evaluation within 1 year, or no remote transmission within 6 months. Interventions performed included automated texts/emails, certified letters, and personal phone calls.

Results: A total of 612 patients were identified, with the total number of patients increasing over the 5-year QI period as patients had devices implanted and removed. Initial noncompliance with in-person annual follow-up was 29%. If patients were noncompliant, a personal phone call was made, reminding them to return to clinic. If the patient could not be reached for 3 months, a certified letter was sent. The noncompliance rate decreased to 5% over the first year and remained around this level over the QI period (3%-9%). For remote transmissions, 54% of patients were noncompliant. Interventions were performed on subgroups of patients. Automated texts/emails were trialed in 126; after 6 months, 41% of these patients remained noncompliant. Phone calls were then trialed on 87 patients. Over 6 months, noncompliance decreased to 11%.

Conclusions: Patients with CIEDs have poor compliance with regular follow-up. Patients have a limited response to automated measures (texts/emails). Personal phone calls had the greatest impact in improving compliance.