Pediatrics
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The purpose of this research was to describe hospital use patterns of HIV-infected children in the United States. ⋯ Infections account for the majority of hospitalizations of HIV-infected children in the United States, although nutritional deficiencies, anemia and other hematologic disorders, gastrointestinal and renal disorders, and complications of medical care are also more common among hospitalized children with HIV than among those without HIV.
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Performance measures are essential components of public reporting and quality improvement. To date, few such measures exist to provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of emergency department services for children. ⋯ Using a structured panel process, data on emergency department use, and literature review, it was possible to define indicators of emergency department care for children. The feasibility of these indicators will depend on the availability of high-quality data.
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Our goal was to determine if there were any changes in risk-adjusted mortality after the implementation of a computerized provider order entry system in our PICU. ⋯ Implementation of a computerized provider order entry system, even in the early months after implementation, was not associated with an increase in mortality. Our experience suggests that careful design, build, implementation, and support can mitigate the risk of implementing new technology even in an ICU setting.