Abstract
RATIONALE: Evidence-based guidelines recommend screening all individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for the genetic disorder alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). However, it is estimated that only 5% of people with COPD have been tested for AATD, and a large fraction of the estimated 70,000 to 100,000 Americans with AATD have not yet been diagnosed. Low familiarity with AATD and limited knowledge about diagnostic tests and available treatments contribute to suboptimal screening rates. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to address barriers to and improve rates of guideline-based AATD diagnostic testing among racially and ethnically diverse patients with COPD at a large community health center. METHODS: A quality improvement initiative consisting of educational sessions and electronic health record (EHR) system interventions was implemented to improve the adoption of guideline-based screening for AATD in patients with COPD. RESULTS: An analysis of EHR data demonstrated that among patients with a COPD diagnosis (n=1030), 22.2% (n=229) were screened for AATD in the 12 months following the start of the quality improvement initiative compared with 1.3% (n=13) of patients with a COPD diagnosis (n=972) seen in the 12 months prior to the start of the quality improvement initiative (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A quality improvement initiative consisting of educational sessions and EHR system modifications was successful in increasing clinicians' knowledge and diagnostic screening rates for AATD in patients with COPD at a large community health center.