Warfarin management in Acute Stroke Patients Project
Sydney South West Area Health Service
This project was entered in the 2007 NSW Health Awards, Primary Health and Continuing Care in the Community category.
Contact: Wendy Jamieson
Abstract
Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) present the biggest risk of harm to patients in hospitals and only 10 to 20% of errors are ever reported. (1999 Rigby et al.) It has been stated that problems from failing to prescribe or adequately manage anticoagulants account for up to a 1/3 of potentially preventable ADEs. It has been previously estimated that, overall, problems with anticoagulants alone could amount to costs of $AU100 million each year. (2003 Runciman et al)
Patients who have had a stroke and are prescribed Warfarin are frequently discharged from hospital without full comprehension of the potential impact of the drug they will be taking, probably for life. Up to 5% of patients can represent to hospital with a second stroke due to non compliance with medication including Warfarin.
The SSSL collaboration initiated by the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in healthcare uses “interventions that are evidenced based and are known to prevent harm to patients if systematically applied across an organisation.” (2004 Queensland Health)
The full entry document can be downloaded in the formats listed below:
Warfarin management in Acute Stroke Patients Project (74KB)
Warfarin management in Acute Stroke Patients Project (51KB)
