The Department of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has been awarded a half-million dollar grant to accelerate the development and adoption of evidence-based approaches to improve the safety and effectiveness of patients with the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) as they move from one care setting to another.
Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning & Change (IGLC) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Independent Medical Education (IME) provided the funds which will be used for the development of a care bundle and a smartphone app focused on transitions of care for patients with venous thromboembolism.
VTE includes two conditions: deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs; pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot detaches from the wall of the leg vein and moves to the lungs, causing difficulty breathing. The treatment of both conditions involves the use of intravenous or oral anticoagulant medication and can take several months. While treatment often begins in a hospital setting, most patients transition to home or another outpatient setting immediately after discharge.
“Successfully treating venous thromboembolism requires a great deal of coordinated care,” said Eric Goodman, MD, Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the study’s principal investigator. “It can be hard for many patients to manage their treatment on their own. We feel that this program will help provide high quality and well-coordinated care as VTE patients leave the hospital and continue their treatment as an outpatient.”
Data from the app and other components of the VTE Bundle will be aggregated into an electronic dashboard.The goal of the study is to reduce recurrence of VTE and to minimize serious medication-related adverse events, as well as to reduce hospital readmission by staying in close contact with the patient using the smartphone app. Mount Sinai has successfully used a similar app to help patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease manage their health.
The application will be used to collect patient data on medication adherence and symptom progression, and will facilitate communication with the care team. Data from the app and other components of the VTE Bundle will be aggregated into an electronic dashboard, which will be fully integrated with the electronic health record system used at Mount Sinai to facilitate coordination of care.
In addition, a licensed clinical social worker will meet the patients at their bedside to help them and family members become acquainted with the app and other aspects of the transition to outpatient care and necessary follow-up. Through the app, the navigator will remain in contact with patients to help them adhere to their medication plans and attend their follow up appointments, and will help facilitate communication with their primary care provider for medical issues related to VTE.