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    in progress

    Development timeline: November 2018 – June 2020

    A new clinical practice flowchart for the management of acute Atrial Fibrillation (AF) will be adapted from the National Heart Foundation and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand’s guideline for the diagnosis and management of Atrial Fibrillation 2018 (the guideline). 

    Why are we developing this guidance?

    Through a study at a major Melbourne tertiary hospital we became aware of variation in the management and treatment of AF and atrial flutter in emergency departments. 

    The study, presented at the 2018 Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Annual Conference, showed the following variations in care:

    • prolonged length of stay
    • frequent re-presentations to the emergency department
    • poor compliance with existing guidance to manage AF, including rhythm and rate control
    • use of Direct Current Cardioversion (DCR), and
    • prescribing anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke. 


    This flowchart will summarise the guidance to increase awareness and compliance with the best practice management of AF in the emergency department. 

    Scope of guidance

    The flowchart will guide management of acute atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter in hospital emergency departments. 
     

    Expert working group membership

    MEMBER ROLE ORGANISATION
    Dr Mark Horrigan Project Lead- AF in ED Project Austin Health
    Prof. Peter Cameron       Clinical Lead Emergency Care Clinical Network
    Emergency Physician     		 Alfred Health 
    Dr. Thomas Chan Emergency Care Clinical Network
    Emergency Physician        		 Austin Health
    Alastair Foster AF Project Officer Safer Care Victoria
    A/Prof. Peter Hand

    Clinical Lead Stroke Clinical Network
    Geriatrician

    		 Alfred Health
    A/Prof. Peter Hunter Clinical Lead Care of the Older Person Network
    Neurologist     		 Alfred Health
    Prof Danny Liew Cardiac Clinical Network
    Consultant Physician
    Epidemiologist         		 Alfred Health and Monash University
    A/Prof. Arthur Nasis Clinical Lead Cardiac Clinical Network
    Cardiologist        		 Monash Health
    Dervla O’ Regan Project Lead, Cardiac Clinical Network Safer Care Victoria
    Gemma Ricketson Manager – Cardiac, Stroke and Renal Networks Safer Care Victoria
    Dr Dan Turner Rural emergency physician Mildura Base Hospital
    Prof Andrew Wilson Chief Medical Officer and Cardiac Clinical Network
    Cardiologist    		 Safer Care Victoria

     

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    Terms of reference

    Get in touch

    Centre of Clinical Excellence - Chronic
    Safer Care Victoria
    cardiac.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au

    Page last updated: 11 Nov 2020

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