Implementation and Improvement of Pediatric Asthma Guideline Improves Hospital-Based Care.

BACKGROUND: Standardized pediatric asthma care has been shown to improve measures in specific hospital areas, but to our knowledge, the implementation of an asthma clinical practice guideline (CPG) has not been demonstrated to be associated with improved hospital-wide outcomes. We sought to implement and refine a pediatric asthma CPG to improve outcomes and throughput for the emergency department (ED), inpatient care, and the ICU. METHODS: An urban, quaternary-care children's hospital developed and implemented an evidence-based, pediatric asthma CPG to standardize care from ED arrival through discharge for all primary diagnosis asthma encounters for patients ≥2 years old without a complex chronic condition. Primary outcomes included ED and inpatient length of stay (LOS), percent ED encounters requiring admission, percent admissions requiring ICU care, and total charges. Balancing measures included the number of asthma discharges between all-cause 30-day readmissions after asthma discharges and asthma relapse within 72 hours. Statistical process control charts were used to monitor and analyze outcomes. RESULTS: Analyses included 3650 and 3467 encounters 2 years pre- and postimplementation, respectively. Postimplementation, reductions were seen in ED LOS for treat-and-release patients (3.9 hours vs 3.3 hours), hospital LOS (1.5 days vs 1.3 days), ED encounters requiring admission (23.5% vs 18.8%), admissions requiring ICU (23.0% vs 13.2%), and total charges ($4457 vs $3651). Guideline implementation was not associated with changes in balancing measures. CONCLUSIONS: The hospital-wide standardization of a pediatric asthma CPG across hospital units can safely reduce overall hospital resource intensity by reducing LOS, admissions, ICU services, and charges.

Enhancing Pediatric Asthma Care and Nursing Education Through an Academic Practice Partnership.

BACKGROUND: Home environmental assessments and interventions delivered via academic practice partnerships (APP) between clinics and schools of nursing may be a low or no cost delivery model of pediatric asthma care and professional education. Patients receive enhanced clinical resources that can improve self-management and healthcare utilization. Additionally, students can practice chronic disease management skills in actual patient encounters. OBJECTIVE: To describe outcomes of the implementation of an APP between a school of nursing and a pediatric asthma specialty clinic (PASC) to deliver a home visit program (HVP). The HVP was designed to reduce emergency department visits and asthma related hospitalizations in PASC patients and provide clinical experiences for nursing students. METHODS: PASC referred patients to the HVP based on their level of asthma control. Students provided an individualized number of home visits to 17 participants over a nine month period. A 12-month pre- and post-HVP comparison of emergency department visits and asthma related hospitalizations was conducted. Additional information was gathered from stakeholders via an online survey, and interviews with APP partners and HVP families. OUTCOMES: Children had fewer asthma related hospitalizations post HVP. Findings suggest a reduction in exposure to environmental triggers, improved patient and family management of asthma, and increased PASC knowledge of asthma triggers in the home and increased student knowledge and skills related to asthma management. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple clinical and educational benefits may be realized through the development of APPs as an infrastructure supporting targeted interventions in home visits to pediatric asthma patients and their families.

Breathe easy: 5 steps to better breathing with your metered-dose inhaler (MDI).

Proper use of the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is essential for medications to prevent and treat acute asthma exacerbations. This training video teaches children and clinicians correct technique for MDI use.