HSF Reviews, Vol. 5, Issue 1

Effective Strategies for Measuring Quality and Improving Outcomes in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Target Audience: This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, blood bank directors, and hematologyoncology consultants.

Statement of Need: This activity will provide clinicians with effective strategies aimed at reducing blood loss and an understanding of how evidence-based medicine determines quality of care.

Release date: June 2007
Expiration date: June 2008
Estimated time to complete activity: 1.5 hours

Upon completion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the importance of incorporating evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice to drive quality of care.
• Review the evidence-based STS Blood Management Guidelines.
• Explain the impact of pay-for-performance on cardiac surgery practice.
• Develop strategies for effective implementation of the STS Blood Management Guidelines in clinical practice.
• Describe the clinical and financial benefits of incorporating the STS Blood Management Guidelines in clinical practice.

This issue of Heart Surgery Forum Reviews is available for download in PDF format. All materials, including the CME test are included in the file.