Abstract
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves quality of life and survival in certain clinical settings [1]. These benefits are counterbalanced by the procedural risks. To encourage quality patient care, each PCI program must evaluate its performance through a meaningful continuous quality improvement (CQI) process. The ACC/AHA/SCAI 2005 PCI guideline update, as well as the newly implemented SCAI/ACC catheterization laboratory accreditation program, Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE), requires a CQI program for every health care facility in which PCI is performed [2]. CQI is an iterative method to evaluate operational approaches and remedy deficiencies [3]. The primary emphasis in CQI is on evaluating the overall program structure, processes, and outcomes of care; however, specific operator performance assessed by peer review is highly desirable. The Federal Health Care Improvement Act of 1986 recognized the importance of these programs by protecting participants and their deliberations. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) has previously published guidelines to develop a framework for these activities in the catheterization laboratory [4,5]. This statement is Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois Central Arkansas Veterans Health System and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, MS Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, California University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
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