Operational definitions of quality measures
| Quality measure | Numerator | Denominator | Exclusions |
| Brain imaging | Patients receiving brain imaging (Brain CT or MRI) within 2 days of index event | TIA patient cohort | Died within 2 days of index event Discharged to hospice within 2 days of index event Left AMA within 2 days of index event; Transferred to another non-VA acute care facility within 2 days of index event Admitted from a non-VA acute care facility |
| Carotid artery imaging | Patients receiving a carotid imaging procedure within 2 days after index event or 6 months before the index event | TIA patient cohort | Died within 2 days of index event Transferred to another non-VA acute care facility within 2 days of index event Discharged to hospice Patients who left against medical advice within 2 days of index event |
| High or moderate potency statin | Patients who receive statin therapy within 7 days after discharge (with >1 day of supply) defined as follows: ≤75 years of age: high potency statin >75 years of age: moderate or high potency statin | TIA patient cohort | Transferred to another non-VA acute care facility Patients who died during the hospital stay or during ED visit Patients who left against medical advice Patients discharged to hospice Patients with allergy to statin therapy |
| Antithrombotics | Percent of patients with TIA or minor stroke who receive antithrombotic therapy within 7 days after discharge (with an outpatient supply >1 day) | TIA patient cohort | Died during hospital stay Discharged to hospice Transferred to another non-VA acute care facility Patients who left against medical advice Patients with an allergy to antithrombotic medication Patients who receive tPA within 2 days of discharge |
AMA, against medical advice; ED, emergency department; TIA, transient ischaemic attack; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator; VA, Veterans Affairs.