Computer-Based Early Warning System for Potentially Life-Threatening QT Prolongation

Publication date: April 2014 Source:Hospital Medicine Clinics, Volume 3, Issue 2 Author(s): J. Martijn Bos , Pedro J. Caraballo , Michael J. AckermanTeaser QT prolongation is an independent predictor for all-cause cardiovascular mortality and stroke. The Mayo Clinic has developed an institution-wide, computer-based clinical decision support system integrated in the electronic medical record, which automatically alerts physicians of an electrocardiogram with a QTc higher than 470 milliseconds in pediatric patients or 500 milliseconds in adults and directs them to a resource (AskMayoExpert) with instructions on how to further evaluate and manage patients with QT prolongation. This review discusses QT prolongation, the Mayo Clinic’s QT alert system, and the initial results of this computerized early warning system.
Source: Hospital Medicine Clinics - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research