Impact of an Integrated Electronic Health Record Protocol on Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval Attempt Rates: An Observational Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION

To improve inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval rates, an electronic health record prompt for scheduling retrieval before patient discharge was implemented.

METHODS

This retrospective comparative cohort study was conducted in a single Midwestern tertiary care medical center. Adult patients with IVC filters placed for a medical (Medical subgroup) or trauma (Trauma subgroup) indication before and after protocol implementation and who had follow-up documented in the electronic health record were included. IVC filter retrieval attempt rates both overall and by indication for placement before and after protocol implementation were compared.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty-five patients met eligibility criteria: 223 before implementation (Before group) and 162 after implementation (After group). The attempted retrieval rate for the After group was 11.4% higher than the Before group (P = .012). Attempted retrieval rates in the Medical Before and After subgroups were 56.2% and 76.0%, respectively (P = .001). The Trauma subgroups' rates were similar to each other (P = .594). Time to retrieval attempt was significantly shorter in the Medical After subgroup than in the Medical Before subgroup (P = .018) but similar in the Trauma subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Attempted retrieval rates were significantly higher in the After group and Medical After subgroup. Trauma subgroup rates were similar, likely because a previous intervention to increase retrieval in trauma patients was in place during the pre-implementation period of our study. Findings suggest that using an automated electronic health record-based prompt to facilitate IVC filter retrieval scheduling could greatly improve retrieval rates and patient safety.