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Thank you for attending THSNA 2026. The virtual meeting is now closed.
Presentation Details
| Transforming AF Care: A Learning Lab Approach to Advancing Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Geoffrey Barnes1, Tracy Blithe2, Amanda Katz3, Elizabeth Goldstein3, Julie Gouveia-Pisano4, Charles J Medico4, Barbara K Pritchard4, Julie Simonson4, Anne Marie Smith2. 1University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.2Heart Rhythm Society, Washington, DC, USA.3Anticoagulation Forum, Newton, MA, USA.4Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA |
Abstract
Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia, significantly increases stroke risk. Although evidence-based guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation therapy to reduce the risk of stroke in appropriate patients, many such patients remain untreated. To address this gap, the Anticoagulation Forum (ACF), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Pfizer formed a collaboration, combining their expertise in anticoagulation stewardship, AF care, improvement science, and quality improvement (QI). The collaboration launched the AF Transformation Learning Lab (TLL) initiative, a structured peer-to-peer educational series designed to support healthcare teams in improving guideline-concordant anticoagulation care for patients with AF through practical, scalable QI approaches. Objectives
To create awareness, engagement, and motivation for health systems to close care gaps in diagnosed and untreated patients with AF by equipping multidisciplinary teams with skills to design, launch, and sustain QI initiatives focused on anticoagulation care for patients with AF. Methods
The core program consisted of a seven-part interactive webinar series delivered over several months. Session topics aligned with the AF QI Framework on the HRS CardiQ.org website and ACF’s Core Elements of Anticoagulation Stewardship Programs and included: (1) Organizational Readiness to Change (2) System Stakeholder Engagement (3) Design – Crafting an Effective QI Plan (4) Implement – Launching and Monitoring the QI Initiative (5) Report – Communicating Results and Insights (6) Stewardship – Sustaining and Scaling Initiatives, and (7) Organizational Readiness to Take Action. Clinicians from eight health systems participated in sessions that were both didactic and interactive, led by nationally renowned experts. Participants were encouraged to apply learnings within their organizations to improve guideline concordant anticoagulation care in patients with AF. The collaborators surveyed participants using structured and open-ended questions. Rich qualitative data were received. To ensure lasting impact, the collaborators are developing an enduring toolkit, incorporating content, frameworks, participant feedback, and resources from the program. This toolkit will be made available in the public domain, extending the reach of the TLL to organizations beyond the live series. Results
A total of 26 clinicians from eight healthcare systems engaged in the TLL, representing a diverse mix of practice settings across the US, bringing varying levels of expertise in QI for AF. Participating sites reported that the TLL has positively impacted QI efforts in anticoagulation care. Reported highlights included: 1) Advancements defining care gaps and the business case to prioritize AF care; 2) Increased organizational buy-in through expanding a committed network of champions; 3) Improved leadership support through communication of value; 4) Steps towards the establishment of dashboards and creation of AF care pathways; and 5) Establishment of national quality anticoagulation networks across multistate healthcare organizations. Conclusions
The TLL initiative demonstrated that a peer-to-peer educational model can drive system-level change in AF anticoagulation care. By addressing QI approaches, organizational readiness, stakeholder alignment, communication and sustainability, the enduring toolkit offers a roadmap for QI that will be accessible to all. Together, the collaborators designed and implemented a model for cross-sector collaboration that may positively impact quality of care. Funding: The initiative and abstract were funded by the Pfizer/BMS Alliance.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia, significantly increases stroke risk. Although evidence-based guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation therapy to reduce the risk of stroke in appropriate patients, many such patients remain untreated. To address this gap, the Anticoagulation Forum (ACF), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Pfizer formed a collaboration, combining their expertise in anticoagulation stewardship, AF care, improvement science, and quality improvement (QI). The collaboration launched the AF Transformation Learning Lab (TLL) initiative, a structured peer-to-peer educational series designed to support healthcare teams in improving guideline-concordant anticoagulation care for patients with AF through practical, scalable QI approaches. Objectives
To create awareness, engagement, and motivation for health systems to close care gaps in diagnosed and untreated patients with AF by equipping multidisciplinary teams with skills to design, launch, and sustain QI initiatives focused on anticoagulation care for patients with AF. Methods
The core program consisted of a seven-part interactive webinar series delivered over several months. Session topics aligned with the AF QI Framework on the HRS CardiQ.org website and ACF’s Core Elements of Anticoagulation Stewardship Programs and included: (1) Organizational Readiness to Change (2) System Stakeholder Engagement (3) Design – Crafting an Effective QI Plan (4) Implement – Launching and Monitoring the QI Initiative (5) Report – Communicating Results and Insights (6) Stewardship – Sustaining and Scaling Initiatives, and (7) Organizational Readiness to Take Action. Clinicians from eight health systems participated in sessions that were both didactic and interactive, led by nationally renowned experts. Participants were encouraged to apply learnings within their organizations to improve guideline concordant anticoagulation care in patients with AF. The collaborators surveyed participants using structured and open-ended questions. Rich qualitative data were received. To ensure lasting impact, the collaborators are developing an enduring toolkit, incorporating content, frameworks, participant feedback, and resources from the program. This toolkit will be made available in the public domain, extending the reach of the TLL to organizations beyond the live series. Results
A total of 26 clinicians from eight healthcare systems engaged in the TLL, representing a diverse mix of practice settings across the US, bringing varying levels of expertise in QI for AF. Participating sites reported that the TLL has positively impacted QI efforts in anticoagulation care. Reported highlights included: 1) Advancements defining care gaps and the business case to prioritize AF care; 2) Increased organizational buy-in through expanding a committed network of champions; 3) Improved leadership support through communication of value; 4) Steps towards the establishment of dashboards and creation of AF care pathways; and 5) Establishment of national quality anticoagulation networks across multistate healthcare organizations. Conclusions
The TLL initiative demonstrated that a peer-to-peer educational model can drive system-level change in AF anticoagulation care. By addressing QI approaches, organizational readiness, stakeholder alignment, communication and sustainability, the enduring toolkit offers a roadmap for QI that will be accessible to all. Together, the collaborators designed and implemented a model for cross-sector collaboration that may positively impact quality of care. Funding: The initiative and abstract were funded by the Pfizer/BMS Alliance.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.