Impact of a multidisciplinary workflow on safety and management of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Abstract Purpose Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin administration. Management strategies are complex and include discontinuing heparin products, initiating alternative anticoagulants, interpreting laboratory test results, documenting heparin allergies, and providing patient education. Medication error reports and a retrospective review conducted at an academic medical center revealed an opportunity for a quality improvement initiative and led to the creation of a multidisciplinary workflow for the management of HIT. In a pre-post study, the impact of the multidisciplinary workflow on the safety and management of HIT was evaluated. Methods The preimplementation group consisted of adult patients tested for suspected HIT from April 4, 2014, through May 31, 2016; the postimplementation group consisted of adult patients tested from November 1, 2016, through October 31, 2018. The primary outcome was the incidence of heparin product administration while HIT testing was ongoing. The secondary outcome was the rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation. Results The incidence of heparin product administration while HIT testing results were pending was significantly reduced, from 54.2% to 20.0% (P < 0.001), after workflow implementation. The rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation significantly increased, from 95.0% to 100% (P < 0.001). Conclusion Implementation of a multidisciplinary workflow for the management of HIT significantly reduced the incidence of heparin administration while testing was ongoing and improved the rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation.