Hospital pediatrics
-
Hospital pediatrics · Jul 2013
Observational StudyResource utilization and cost of inserting peripheral intravenous catheters in hospitalized children.
The goal of this study was to measure the costs and difficulty in placing peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters in hospitalized children; measures of resource utilization. We measured the costs and difficulty in placing peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters in hospitalized children. This common procedure has implications for the utilization of hospital resources. ⋯ The insertion of peripheral IV catheters in an inpatient setting can be time intensive and requires significant skill. Our study suggests that resource utilization may improve when nurses and personnel proficient in starting peripheral IV catheters are used when the initial nurse has failed to obtain IV access. This systems improvement should result in shortened time to administration of parenteral therapies, positively improving outcomes and lessening length of stay, as well as improving patient/family satisfaction due to reduced perceptions of pain.
-
Hospital pediatrics · Jul 2013
Pediatric hospitalists collaborate to improve timeliness of discharge communication.
The transition of care from hospital to primary care provider (PCP) at discharge carries the potential for significant information loss. There is evidence that the timeliness and content of discharge communication are often unreliable during this handoff. Suboptimal transitions of care at discharge have been associated with adverse outcomes, and efficient solutions are required to transform the current state. Our specific aim was the achievement 90% documentation of hospitalist-PCP communication within 2 days of hospital discharge in < 12 months. ⋯ Timely hospitalist-PCP communication was inconsistent at the beginning of the study. This low-resource quality improvement collaborative was able to achieve rapid improvement and resulted in improved perceptions of quality improvement knowledge among participants.
-
Hospital pediatrics · Jul 2013
Clinical profile of children requiring early unplanned admission to the PICU.
The goal of this study was to describe the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of children who require early unplanned admission to the PICU within 24 hours of hospitalization from the emergency department. ⋯ Male subjects, infants aged < 1 year, and children with respiratory complaints accounted for a large proportion of children requiring early unplanned admission to the PICU within 24 hours of hospitalization from the ED. Further studies are required to determine which factors are associated with deterioration after hospitalization.
-
Hospital pediatrics · Jul 2013
Observational StudyHigh-fidelity simulation enhances pediatric residents' retention, knowledge, procedural proficiency, group resuscitation performance, and experience in pediatric resuscitation.
The goal of this study was to assess the effect of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) pediatric resuscitation training on resident performance and self-reported experience compared with historical controls. ⋯ Despite significant skill decay, HFS pediatric resuscitation training improved pediatric resident cognitive knowledge, procedural proficiency, and comfort. Residents who completed the course were not only more proficient than historical controls but also reported increased real-life resuscitation experiences and related procedures.