How Perceived Burnout Alters Frontline Educators' Assessments in the Clinical Learning Environment.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores frontline educators' experience with learner burnout in the clinical learning environment (CLE) and how perceived burnout may impact assessment. METHODS: A survey was sent to 105 Pediatric Hospital Medicine faculty and fellows at 7 sites across the United States representing diverse CLEs. They were invited to participate in an 11-question web-based survey that was developed, edited, and revised in step-wise fashion. It consisted of 5-point Likert scale, forced-choice, and dichotomous questions. Data from the web-based survey were compiled for descriptive purposes and analyzed for trends. RESULTS: The response rate was 53%. Most respondents (83%) perceive learner burnout at least once per year, but median comfort in identifying burnout was 3 (scale 1-5, 3 = neutral). Factors associated with comfort were education as primary niche (P = .01) and having wellness training (P = .045). In terms of the impact of perceived learner burnout impacts on assessment, 88% report impact on feedback sessions and 60% reported impact on summative assessment; most are more lenient. Stated belief in whether perceived burnout should or should not impact assessment had 60% sensitivity and 84% specificity in predicting whether it does. CONCLUSIONS: Frontline educators routinely perceive learner burnout in the CLE and it often impacts educators' assessment of a learner. The discrepancy between the expected and actual impact may suggest amplification of known barriers to accurate assessment in the CLE. Comfort associated with wellness training suggests that interventions targeting frontline educators in the CLE may improve their ability to simultaneously support and assess learners.

Antibiotic Regimens and Associated Outcomes in Children Hospitalized With Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the optimal antibiotic regimen for use in hospitalized children with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). Various regimens may confer toxin suppression and/or additional coverage for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). OBJECTIVES: To describe antibiotic regimens in hospitalized children with SSSS and examine the association between antistaphylococcal antibiotic regimens and patient outcomes. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of children hospitalized with SSSS using the Pediatric Health Information System database (2011-2016). Children who received clindamycin monotherapy, clindamycin plus MSSA coverage (eg, nafcillin), or clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (eg, vancomycin) were included. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS); secondary outcomes were treatment failure and cost. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to compare outcomes among antibiotic groups. RESULTS: Of 1,259 children included, 828 children received the most common antistaphylococcal antibiotic regimens: clindamycin monotherapy (47%), clindamycin plus MSSA coverage (33%), and clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (20%). Children receiving clindamycin plus MRSA coverage had higher illness severity (44%) compared with clindamycin monotherapy (28%) and clindamycin plus MSSA (32%) (P =.001). In adjusted analyses, LOS and treatment failure did not differ among the 3 regimens (P =.42 and P =.26, respectively). Cost was significantly lower for children receiving clindamycin monotherapy and highest in those receiving clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (mean, $4,839 vs $5,348, respectively; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In children with SSSS, the addition of MSSA or MRSA coverage to clindamycin monotherapy was associated with increased cost and no incremental difference in clinical outcomes.

Invasive Bacterial Infections in Infants Younger Than 60 Days With Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of invasive bacterial infections (IBIs) in young infants with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and the impact of IBI evaluation on disposition, length of stay (LOS), and cost. METHODS: This retrospective (2009-2014) cohort study used data from 35 children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System. We included infants younger than 60 days who presented to an emergency department (ED) with SSTI. Invasive bacterial infection was defined as bacteremia/sepsis, bone/joint infection, or bacterial meningitis. Readmission and return ED visits within 30 days were evaluated to identify missed IBIs for infants. RESULTS: A total of 2734 infants were included (median age, 33 days; interquartile range [IQR], 21-44); 62% were hospitalized. Invasive bacterial infection was identified in 2%: bacteremia (1.8%), osteomyelitis (0.1%), and bacterial meningitis (0.1%). Hospitalization occurred in 78% of infants with blood cultures, 95% with cerebrospinal fluid cultures, and 23% without cultures. Median hospitalization LOS was 2 days (IQR, 1-3). Median cost was US $4943 for infants with cerebrospinal fluid cultures (IQR, US $3475-6780) compared with US $419 (IQR, US $215-1149) for infants without IBI evaluations (P < 0.001). Five infants (0.2%) returned to the ED within 30 days with new IBI diagnoses (4 bacteremia, 1 meningitis). CONCLUSIONS: Invasive bacterial infection occurs infrequently in infants younger than 60 days who present to children's hospital EDs with SSTI. Bacteremia is the most common IBI. More extensive evaluation for IBI is associated with increased rate of admission, LOS, and cost. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of a limited IBI evaluation in young infants with SSTI.

"PLEASE Complete Your Evaluations!" Strategies to Engage Faculty in Competency-Based Assessments.

Competency-based assessments (CBAs) have gained traction in graduate medical education and inform important learner outcomes through the continuum of medical training. Active participation in new CBAs presents challenges to faculty working in a busy clinical environment. As such, the implementation of new CBAs can be approached with intention to foster acceptance and engagement with new evaluations. This paper describes strategies utilized to implement CBAs among clinician educators during a national assessment pilot. Our methods are grounded in educational, psychological, business, ecological, communication, and information technology theory. Our primary interventions included creating a multilevel vision, engaging a dedicated work group, incorporating quality improvement methodology, and integrating technology to successfully implement the assessments. These practical and effective interventions may also be applied to the implementation of other educational innovations.

Improving Influenza Vaccination in Hospitalized Children With Asthma.

OBJECTIVES: Children with asthma are at increased risk of complications from influenza; hospitalization represents an important opportunity for vaccination. We aimed to increase the influenza vaccination rate among eligible hospitalized patients with asthma on the pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) service from 13% to 80% over a 4-year period. METHODS: Serial Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were implemented to improve influenza vaccination rates among children admitted with status asthmaticus and included modifications to the electronic health record (EHR) and provider and family education. Success of the initial PHM pilot led to the development of a hospital-wide vaccination tracking tool and an institutional, nurse-driven vaccine protocol by a multidisciplinary team. Our primary outcome metric was the inpatient influenza vaccination rate among PHM patients admitted with status asthmaticus. Process measures included documentation of influenza vaccination status and use of the EHR asthma order set and a history and physical template. The balance measure was adverse vaccine reaction within 24 hours. Data analysis was performed by using statistical process control charts. RESULTS: The inpatient influenza vaccination rate increased from 13% to 57% over 4 years; special cause variation was achieved. Overall, 50% of eligible patients were vaccinated during asthma hospitalization in the postintervention period. Documentation of influenza vaccination status significantly increased from 51% to 96%, and asthma history and physical and order set use also improved. No adverse vaccine reactions were documented. CONCLUSIONS: A bundle of interventions, including EHR modifications, provider and family education, hospital-wide tracking, and a nurse-driven vaccine protocol, increased influenza vaccination rates among eligible children hospitalized with status asthmaticus.

Variation in Antibiotic Selection and Clinical Outcomes in Infants <60 Days Hospitalized With Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

OBJECTIVES: To describe variation in empirical antibiotic selection in infants <60 days old who are hospitalized with skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) and to determine associations with outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), 30-day returns (emergency department revisit or readmission), and standardized cost. METHODS: Using the Pediatric Health Information System, we conducted a retrospective study of infants hospitalized with SSTI from 2009 to 2014. We analyzed empirical antibiotic selection in the first 2 days of hospitalization and categorized antibiotics as those typically administered for (1) staphylococcal infection, (2) neonatal sepsis, or (3) combination therapy (staphylococcal infection and neonatal sepsis). We examined the association of antibiotic selection and outcomes using generalized linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: A total of 1319 infants across 36 hospitals were included; the median age was 30 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 17-42 days). We observed substantial variation in empirical antibiotic choice, with 134 unique combinations observed before categorization. The most frequently used antibiotics included staphylococcal therapy (50.0% [IQR: 39.2-58.1]) and combination therapy (45.4% [IQR: 36.0-56.0]). Returns occurred in 9.2% of infants. Compared with administration of staphylococcal antibiotics, use of combination therapy was associated with increased LOS (adjusted rate ratio: 1.35; 95% confidence interval: 1.17-1.53) and cost (adjusted rate ratio: 1.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-1.58), but not with 30-day returns. CONCLUSIONS: Infants who are hospitalized with SSTI experience wide variation in empirical antibiotic selection. Combination therapy was associated with increased LOS and cost, with no difference in returns. Our findings reveal the need to identify treatment strategies that can be used to optimize resource use for infants with SSTI.

Variation in Diagnostic Test Use and Associated Outcomes in Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome at Children's Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is rising, but current practice variation in diagnostic test use is not well described. Our aim was to describe the variation in diagnostic test use in children hospitalized with SSSS and to determine associations with patient outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective (2011-2016) cohort study of children aged 0 to 18 years from 35 children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database. Tests included blood culture, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, serum chemistries, and group A streptococcal testing. K-means clustering was used to stratify hospitals into groups of high (cluster 1) and low (cluster 2) test use. Associations between clusters and patient outcomes (length of stay, cost, readmissions, and emergency department revisits) were assessed with generalized linear mixed-effects modeling. RESULTS: We included 1259 hospitalized children with SSSS; 84% were ≤4 years old. Substantial interhospital variation was seen in diagnostic testing. Blood culture was the most commonly obtained test (range 62%-100%), with the most variation seen in inflammatory markers (14%-100%). Between hospital clusters 1 and 2, respectively, there was no significant difference in adjusted length of stay (2.6 vs 2.5 days; P = .235), cost ($4752 vs $4453; P = .591), same-cause 7-day readmission rate (0.8% vs 0.4%; P = .349), or emergency department revisit rates (0.1% vs 0.6%; P = .148). CONCLUSIONS: For children hospitalized with SSSS, lower use of diagnostic tests was not associated with changes in outcomes. Hospitals with high diagnostic test use may be able to reduce testing without adversely affecting patient outcomes.