Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The ACIC is a Collaborative Quality Improvement (CQI) program involving the collection of data related to: indications for Coronary Computed Tomography (CCTA), patient health characteristics, acquisition techniques of CCTA scans, physician interpretation of results and short-term outcomes over a 90 day period.

Detailed Description
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This study is a collaborative quality assurance initiative organized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Cross Network (BCBSM/BCN) for initiation of insurance coverage of coronary artery CT scanning (CCTA), a relatively new procedure that can provide non-invasive coronary angiograms. While this procedure has promise in that it can rapidly diagnose patients with unknown chest pain and reduce the cost of medical care, there is substantial potential for abuse and excess cost and inappropriate care if not appropriately used. The Consortium's objectives are to educate participating sites of the clinical uses of CCTA as well as other best-practice recommendations; to create a database (Registry) to develop evidence of the best-practice utilization of CCTA; to provide a feedback mechanism to the sites about the positive or negative evidence of best-practice utilization of CCTA; to develop strategies to improve the utilization of CCTA; to monitor the CQI process of the individual participating sites; to reduce cost and improve safety and efficiency in in the care of patients with acute chest pain, indeterminate stress tests results, and to assess coronary bypass graft patency.

Official Title
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Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium: A Collaborative Quality Improvement Project

Conditions
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Chest Pain, Coronary Occlusion, Coronary Artery Disease

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: (Patient must meet one criteria) Patient has had a CCTA examination ordered by a referring physician at a participating site. Patient is a self referral. Exclusion Criteria: Clinical contraindications to CCTA are present as determined by attending physician or staff, including but not limited to: Pregnancy or potential pregnancy. Renal failure or dysfunction. Inability to receive beta blockers. Allergy to iodinated contrast without prior premedication. Unwillingness to participate. Inability to read or understand Patient Information Sheet. Age less than 18 years without parent or guardian's evaluation of Patient Information Sheet. Underage and other vulnerable populations are included as the CQI process is intended to detect and correct adverse consequences of CCTA, e.g., excessive radiation, and protect such patients.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 1<br>All patients in whom a clinical CCTA was ordered by their physician at a participating site. Patient must have a prescription for CCTA ordered by their physician. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educate participating sites on appropriate use of CCTA | To educate participating sites in the clinical uses of CCTA recommended by the ACC/ACR as well as other best-practices | 5 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To monitor the CQI process of individual participating sites and the ACIC as a whole. |  | 5 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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coronary artery disease, chest pain, coronary artery bypass graft, stress test, Coronary Angiography