A Quality Improvement Initiative Results in Improved Rates of Timely Postvariceal Bleeding Surveillance Endoscopy.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a study to assess the effects of a quality improvement (QI) initiative on the rates of postvariceal bleeding surveillance upper endoscopy (EGD).

METHODS

We identified patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with variceal bleeding and assessed the rates of timely (≤4 weeks) EGD before and after a QI initiative.

RESULTS

Preintervention: 16% (5 of 32) of patients underwent timely surveillance EGD. We developed a standardized ordering template for gastroenterology fellows and reserved postvariceal EGD scheduling slots. Postintervention: 43% (12 of 28) of patients underwent timely surveillance EGD.

DISCUSSION: A QI intervention was associated with a 27% absolute increase in timely surveillance EGDs.