Talks
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Resident
Academic Level (Author 1)
Resident
Discipline/Specialty (Author 1)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 2)
Resident
Discipline/Specialty (Author 2)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 3)
Resident
Discipline/Specialty (Author 3)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 4)
Resident
Discipline/Specialty (Author 4)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 5)
Faculty
Discipline/Specialty (Author 5)
Internal Medicine
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Telemetry monitoring is a critical tool in detecting arrhythmias but is frequently overutilized outside of guideline-based indications, contributing to alarm fatigue, unnecessary costs, and resource strain. National guidelines (AHA 2017; BHRS 2020) recommend targeted use, yet adherence remains inconsistent. This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to assess baseline adherence and implement a resident-led intervention to optimize telemetry utilization in a general medicine unit.
Methods: The project was conducted in the 2-West Internal Medicine Unit at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Residents were integrated into daily telemetry decision-making beginning in November 2024, following structured education with workshops, simulation training, and pocket reference tools. Baseline adherence to guideline-based indications was measured between November 2024 and April 2025. The primary outcome was guideline adherence; secondary outcomes included identification of common inappropriate indications. Data collection and analysis were performed with oversight from the Quality Improvement Department.
Results: During baseline review, 159 telemetry cases were analyzed. Of these, 100 (62.9%) were appropriate and 59 (37.1%) inappropriate, reflecting suboptimal adherence to national guidelines. The most frequent inappropriate uses included low-risk chest pain and stable coronary artery disease. Post-intervention adherence data collection is ongoing and will be reported at the time of presentation.
Conclusion: Baseline analysis demonstrated only 62.9% adherence to guideline-based telemetry utilization, highlighting substantial overuse. A resident-driven QI intervention is underway, aiming to improve adherence by 25% through education, decision-support tools, and continuous feedback. This project emphasizes the importance of structured interventions and resident engagement in improving patient safety and resource stewardship in cardiovascular care.
Recommended Citation
Donis, Jose; Loayza Pintado, Jose J.; Salcedo, Luis; Aller, Renzo; and Suarez, Andres, "Breaking the Cycle of Telemetry Overuse: A Resident-Led Quality Improvement Initiative" (2026). Research Symposium. 9.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2026/talks/9
Included in
Breaking the Cycle of Telemetry Overuse: A Resident-Led Quality Improvement Initiative
Background: Telemetry monitoring is a critical tool in detecting arrhythmias but is frequently overutilized outside of guideline-based indications, contributing to alarm fatigue, unnecessary costs, and resource strain. National guidelines (AHA 2017; BHRS 2020) recommend targeted use, yet adherence remains inconsistent. This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to assess baseline adherence and implement a resident-led intervention to optimize telemetry utilization in a general medicine unit.
Methods: The project was conducted in the 2-West Internal Medicine Unit at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Residents were integrated into daily telemetry decision-making beginning in November 2024, following structured education with workshops, simulation training, and pocket reference tools. Baseline adherence to guideline-based indications was measured between November 2024 and April 2025. The primary outcome was guideline adherence; secondary outcomes included identification of common inappropriate indications. Data collection and analysis were performed with oversight from the Quality Improvement Department.
Results: During baseline review, 159 telemetry cases were analyzed. Of these, 100 (62.9%) were appropriate and 59 (37.1%) inappropriate, reflecting suboptimal adherence to national guidelines. The most frequent inappropriate uses included low-risk chest pain and stable coronary artery disease. Post-intervention adherence data collection is ongoing and will be reported at the time of presentation.
Conclusion: Baseline analysis demonstrated only 62.9% adherence to guideline-based telemetry utilization, highlighting substantial overuse. A resident-driven QI intervention is underway, aiming to improve adherence by 25% through education, decision-support tools, and continuous feedback. This project emphasizes the importance of structured interventions and resident engagement in improving patient safety and resource stewardship in cardiovascular care.
