Can Electronic Alerts for Clinicians Improve Outpatient Heart Failure Therapy?

An electronic health record–based alert system led to higher rates of guideline-directed medical therapy compared with usual care.

The evolving evidence base for treating heart failure with reduced systolic function (HFrEF) is substantial, and strong recommendations for several classes of therapies are enshrined in clinical practice guidelines. Unfortunately, advances in clinical science and guidelines are not always translated into clinical care. One approach that has been proposed for closing the gap in treating HFrEF patients is the use of targeted electronic alerts for clinicians, integrated into the electronic health record (EHR), that recommend guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).

To test this strategy, investigators conducted an industry-funded, cluster randomized trial (NCT04514458) involving 100 clinicians (69% physicians) caring for 1310 ambulatory HFrEF…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, MACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)