ACE Inhibitor Prescribed in the Physician Office Setting

Why is this important?

An ACE Inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme) is a type of medicine used to treat heart attacks, heart failure and problems associated with the left side of the heart.  The drug works by stopping the production of a hormone that narrows blood vessels.  If taken within 24 hours of experiencing heart attack symptoms, ACE Inhibitors can help to reduce the risk of death.  Continuing to take ACE Inhibitors may help to prevent heart failure.  Most heart failure patients should receive a prescription for an ACE Inhibitor by their primary care physician.

How WellSpan Compares

Not every heart failure patient should receive an ACE Inhibitor.  In fact the primary care physicians of the WellSpan Medical Group use a set of standard criteria to determine whether or not patients should be given the medication.  WellSpan Medical Group physicians strive to ensure that patients who should receive an ACE Inhibitor do receive a prescription for the medicine.  The following shows the percentage of patients (for whom ACE Inhibitors were appropriate) who were given a prescription for an ACE Inhibitor by a WellSpan Medical Group primary care physician.

Unit of Measurement: Percentage

A higher score is better than a lower score.

What we are doing to improve our performance.

The primary care physicians of the WellSpan Medical Group have committed to improvement in the use of ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor medications in treating congestive heart failure patients.  Performance information is provided to physicians, nurses and support staff regarding levels of achievement.  Practice locations that have not met the target level of 100% are developing plans for improvement in this area.