Unlocking Improved Lipid Management: The ASCERTAIN Trial

Managing lipid levels in patients, particularly those with stubborn lipid profiles, can be a challenging endeavor. Despite the critical importance of lipid management in reducing cardiovascular risk, a significant number of Australians struggle to achieve their cholesterol-lowering goals.

The Victorian Heart Institute, in collaboration with Telstra Health, is pioneering a transformative approach to lipid management through the ASCERTAIN trial. This groundbreaking initiative was recently shared at the MedicalDirector Ignite 2023/4 event by Associate Professor Adam Nelson, shedding light on a multidisciplinary model of care that holds the promise of reshaping how we address lipid management.

The ASCERTAIN Trial

ASCERTAIN is an embedded clinical trial that leverages consented, deidentified and aggregated data. It streamlines the process of screening eligibility assessments and documentation. By passively ascertaining endpoints during routine clinical care interactions, it reduces the burden on GPs and fosters greater participation in clinical trials.

At its core, it seeks to tackle the persistent challenge of suboptimal lipid control by integrating a multidisciplinary model of care. This model is designed to provide patients with holistic support and education while ensuring clinician-directed care remains at the forefront.

The Alarming Reality 

Less than one in five Australians achieve their cholesterol-lowering goals, leaving them at high risk for potentially preventable, adverse cardiovascular events (1). It’s a concerning statistic, but the ASCERTAIN trial is determined to change this.

ASCERTAIN is a novel approach to lipid management:

1. Clinician and practice level interventions: The trial incorporates interventions at both clinician and practice levels to ensure a holistic approach to lipid management.
2. Free education: Participating in the ASCERTAIN trial means gaining access to leading experts’ education on cholesterol-lowering guidelines. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions about your patients’ care.
3. Nursel-led outreach: The inclusion of nurse-led outreach helps patients receive personalised care.  Nurses serve as honest brokers in relation to risk factor control, working closely with clinicians to provide wrap-around care and guidance to manage lipids effectively.
4. Educational text messages (SMS): Patients will benefit from educational text messages. These messages serve as reminders for essential health actions, such as encouraging adherence to medications, vaccination reminders and smoking cessation support.

Eligibility

1. Any practice using MedicalDirector Clinical for their electronic health records (EHR)
2. Patients with LDL ≥ 1.8mmol/L are potentially eligible.

To find out more

Click here to submit your practices details and be contacted about this study

Telstra Health’s partnership with Monash University

Telstra Health’s partnership with Monash University is powered by Smart Seek, part of the Telstra Health Smart Connect Care suite of workflows and intelligence tools for GPs and practice managers. Smart Seek enables primary healthcare providers to identifying patients who are eligible for health programs, clinical trials, and research studies. By facilitating this connection, Smart Seek helps remove barriers to access and promotes diversity within clinical trials.

Diversity in clinical trials is essential for a healthcare system that truly represents the needs and experiences of all patients. Currently, there are countless patients who are eligible for trials and eager to participate, but opportunities are scarce. This gap results in populations within clinical trials that often fail to reflect the diversity seen in clinical care.

The ASCERTAIN trial and Telstra Health’s innovative approach with Smart Seek are poised to bridge this divide and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from cutting-edge healthcare advancements.

If you’re a GP looking to improve your patients’ lipid profiles, consider joining this groundbreaking trial. By doing so, you’ll not only enhance your patient care but also contribute to more inclusive and diverse clinical trials, ultimately shaping the future of healthcare.

Get in touch today to explore how ASCERTAIN and Telstra Health’s Smart Seek can transform lipid management in your practice.

Watch Adam’s Nelson’s at MedicalDirector Ignite 2023

(1) Navar, A. M., Matskeplishvili, S. T., Urina‐Triana, M., Arafah, M., Chen, J. W., Sukonthasarn, A., … & Peterson, E. D. (2021). Prospective evaluation of lipid management following acute coronary syndrome in non‐Western countries. Clinical Cardiology, 44(7), 955-962