Implementing Outpatient Screening of Adult Patients at High Risk for Peripheral Artery Disease

The study aimed to improve patient outcomes in an outpatient cardiology center by implementing the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) standardized ankle-brachial index (ABI) screening for high-risk asymptomatic patients. The project found a statistically significant 31.6% increase in ABI ordering for patients with physical signs and symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD), such as lower extremity discoloration, hair loss, or paresthesia. Although the use of ABI screening for asymptomatic patients did not significantly increase, there was a 15% rise in post-intervention ABI orders compared to pre-intervention. The study suggests that integrating this screening protocol into clinic policies could be beneficial for other outpatient cardiac centers.