Enhanced Efficiency in Pediatric Interfacility Transport Through a Centralized Hospital System Communication Center.

OBJECTIVES: Assess the implementation of a new centralized communication center and the effect on our institution's interfacility transport team's ability to respond to requests for patient transport. DESIGN: Retrospective review of data over 12 months prior to opening compared with 12 months after implementation of our centralized communication center. SETTING: Quaternary academic pediatric hospital system with three campuses, a specialized transport team with expertise in pediatric, neonatal, and maternal-fetal critical care, and a new centralized hospital system communication center. PATIENTS: All patients for whom transport to our hospital system was requested within the review period. INTERVENTIONS: Our hospital developed a multidisciplinary, centralized hub incorporating technology and integrated electronic tracking systems to coordinate real-time patient flow including intra- and interhospital transfers. One function of this center is to provide a communication center for critical care transports. Multiple new protocols and processes for transport were implemented upon opening. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After implementation, total transports increased 60% (from 1,200 to >1,900 transports/yr). Team dispatch time decreased 40% from 57-34 minutes. Time from initiation of call to physician acceptance decreased 15% (median, 27-23 min). Over the same interval, there were 59% fewer lost transport opportunities. With this growth, our program was able to expand our transport program in scope and numbers. CONCLUSIONS: A centralized communication center for pediatric hospital patient flow that included specialized critical care patient transport has increased transport capacity and enhanced efficiency throughout our multicampus hospital system.

PAs and NPs provide essential care for children with COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: The rapid spread of COVID-19 brought forth a rapid increase in hospitalization rates, requiring changes in hospital use and medical personnel structure. Physician assistants (PAs) and NPs in pediatric critical care were cross-trained and redeployed to our pediatric biocontainment unit to address the clinician strain in providing high-quality patient care during these unprecedented times. This manuscript discusses the effectiveness of using these clinicians while recognizing the challenges of managing a novel virus in a new unit.

Safe Ground Transport of Pediatric COVID-19 Patients-A Single-Center First-Surge Experience.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to pediatric transport programs. The aims of this study were to describe the transport of pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 and to review the operational challenges that our transport system encountered. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was performed to review all COVID-19 pediatric transport performed over a 6-month period during the initial pandemic surge in 2020. Pediatric patients with a known positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test at the time of transport were included. Patients' hospital records, including their transport record, were reviewed for demographics, diagnoses, transport interventions and complications, and admission disposition. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient cohort. RESULTS: Of the 883 transports performed between April and October 2020, 146 (16%) tested positive for COVID-19 during the initial surge in our geographical area. Patient acuity was diverse with 40% of children having a chronic complex medical condition. More than 25% of children required aerosol-generating procedures during transport. The most common medical diagnosis was respiratory compromise, and the most common surgical diagnosis was appendicitis. No adverse events occurred during transports, and no transport team members contracted COVID-19 because of workplace exposure. Transport program operational challenges ranged from rapidly changing system logistics/policies to educational and utilization of proper personal protective equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Children with COVID-19 can be transported safely with adaption of transport program procedures. Change management and team stress should be anticipated and can be addressed with repeated education and messaging.

Determinants of Pediatric EMS Utilization in Children with High-Acuity Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Underutilization of emergency medical services (EMS) for children with high-acuity conditions is poorly understood. Our objective was to identify differences in demographic factors and describe caregivers' knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding EMS utilization for children with high-acuity conditions. DESIGN/METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study of children with high acuity conditions, defined as requiring immediate medical or surgical intervention and intensive care admission, over a one year period. Demographic data were collected through a retrospective chart review. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews from a purposive sample of caregivers was conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy-four charts were reviewed; 19 caregivers were interviewed (17 in-person, 2 via telephone). The 232 (62%) children not arriving by EMS tended to be younger (1.58 years vs. 2.31 years, p = 0.02), privately insured (30% vs. 19%, p = 0.04), and lived further from the hospital (16.80 miles vs. 12.45 miles, p = 0.001). Patient gender, ethnicity, comorbidities and caregiver language were not associated with EMS underutilization. Immediate invasive medical interventions were more often required for EMS utilizers (85% vs. 60%, p < 0.001). EMS utilizers were more likely to require intubation (78% vs. 47%, p < 0.001) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (26% vs. 2%, p < 0.001), and had shorter hospital stays (4.70 vs. 8.16 days; p-value < 0.001). Three principal themes determined EMS utilization: expectations, knowledge, and perceived barriers. Three principal themes determined EMS utilization: expectations, knowledge, and perceived barriers. Caretakers expected EMS would provide timely, safe transportation that expedited medical care and emotional support. Medical knowledge and prior experience with EMS influenced decision-making about arrival mode. Timeliness, cost, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, loss of autonomy, and the logistics of EMS activation and transport were the most commonly reported barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Young age, private insurance status, and greater distance from the hospital were associated with EMS underutilization. Understanding caregiver expectations, knowledge, and perceived barriers may have important implications for the use of EMS for children. These findings reveal opportunities for improved public education on EMS systems to enhance appropriate EMS utilization for children with high acuity conditions.

How We Got Smart: Improving Interdisciplinary Communication When Summoning Neonatology to High-Risk Deliveries.

Communication around high-risk deliveries is critical to ensure patient safety. A hospital-wide system change in paging the neonatal resuscitation team (NRT) to deliveries was implemented but disliked. An interdisciplinary team seized the opportunity to explore opportunities for an enhanced system to improve communication. The team designed a new screen to our smart panel (responder 5 staff terminal, Rauland, Mount Prospect, Illinois) to page NRT with the location and primary indication for which they were needed at delivery. Surveys assessed user satisfaction among labor and delivery and NRT. Before and after implementation of the smart panel, we assessed number of NRT pages, frequency of NRT being paged prior to the delivery, the time between page and delivery, and use of the code button to summon help. Labor and delivery and NRT user satisfaction greatly improved with the smart panel. Frequency of NRT being paged before birth increased with fewer code pages being used to summon NRT to deliveries. A touch screen-based notification system can enhance timely notification to summon NRT to deliveries while concurrently enhancing satisfaction of providers in both the delivery room and on the NRT.

Continuing Medical Education for Air Medical Providers: The Successes and Challenges.

OBJECTIVE: Research has shown that patients transported by nonpediatric teams have higher rates of morbidity and mortality. There is currently a paucity of pediatric standardized ongoing medical education for emergency medical service providers, thus we aimed to develop a model curriculum to increase their knowledge regarding pediatric respiratory distress and failure. METHODS: The curriculum was based on the Kolb Learning Cycle to optimize learning. Target learners were flight nurses (registered nurse) and emergency medical technicians of a private helicopter emergency transport team. The topics included were pediatric stridor, wheezing, and respiratory failure. Online modules were developed for continued spaced education. Knowledge gained from the interventions was measured by precurricular and postcurricular testing and compared with paired t tests. A linear mixed regression model was used to investigate covariates of interest. RESULTS: Sixty-two learners attended the workshop. Fifty-nine learners completed both precurricular and postcurricular testing. The mean increase between pretest and posttest scores was 12.1% (95% confidence interval, 9.4, 14.8; P < 0.001). Type of licensure (private emergency medical technician vs registered nurse) and number of years experience had no association with the level of knowledge gained. Learners who had greater than 1 year of pediatric transport experience scored higher on their pretests. There was no significant retention shown by those who participated in spaced education. CONCLUSIONS: The curriculum was associated with a short term increased knowledge regarding pediatric respiratory distress and failure for emergency helicopter transport providers and could be used as an alternative model to develop standardized ongoing medical education in pediatrics. Further work is needed to achieve knowledge retention in this learner population.

Resuscitation Bundle in Pediatric Shock Decreases Acute Kidney Injury and Improves Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of an early emergency department (ED) protocol-driven resuscitation (septic shock protocol [SSP]) on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI). STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective pediatric cohort with clinical sepsis admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from the ED before (2009, PRE) and after (2010, POST) implementation of the SSP. AKI was defined by pRIFLE (pediatric version of the Risk of renal dysfunction; Injury to kidney; Failure of kidney function; Loss of kidney function, End-stage renal disease creatinine criteria). RESULTS: A total of 202 patients (PRE, n = 98; POST, n = 104) were included (53% male, mean age 7.7 ± 5.6 years, mean Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction [PELOD] 8.9 ± 12.7, mean Pediatric Risk of Mortality score 5.3 ± 13.9). There were no differences in demographics or illness severity between the PRE and POST groups. POST was associated with decreased AKI (54% vs 29%, P < .001), renal-replacement therapy (4 vs 0, P = .04), PICU, and hospital lengths of stay (LOS) (1.9 ± 2.3 vs 4.5 ± 7.6, P < .01; 6.3 ± 5.1 vs 15.3 ± 16.9, P < .001, respectively), and mortality (10% vs 3%, P = .037). The SSP was independently associated with decreased AKI when we controlled for age, sex, and PELOD (OR 0.27, CI 0.13-0.56). In multivariate analyses, the SSP was independently associated with shorter PICU and hospital LOS when we controlled for AKI and PELOD (P = .02, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: A protocol-driven implementation of a resuscitation bundle in the pediatric ED decreased AKI and need for renal-replacement therapy, as well as PICU and hospital LOS and mortality.

Potential Impact of a Validated Screening Tool for Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a retrospective, theoretical comparison of actual pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) screening for abusive head trauma (AHT) vs AHT screening guided by a previously validated 4-variable clinical prediction rule (CPR) in datasets used by the Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network to derive and validate the CPR. STUDY DESIGN: We calculated CPR-based estimates of abuse probability for all 500 patients in the datasets. Next, we demonstrated a positive and very strong correlation between these estimates of abuse probability and the overall diagnostic yields of our patients' completed skeletal surveys and retinal examinations. Having demonstrated this correlation, we applied mean estimates of abuse probability to predict additional, positive abuse evaluations among patients lacking skeletal survey and/or retinal examination. Finally, we used these predictions of additional, positive abuse evaluations to extrapolate and compare AHT detection (and 2 other measures of AHT screening accuracy) in actual PICU screening for AHT vs AHT screening guided by the CPR. RESULTS: Our results suggest that AHT screening guided by the CPR could theoretically increase AHT detection in PICU settings from 87%-96% (P < .001), and increase the overall diagnostic yield of completed abuse evaluations from 49%-56% (P = .058), while targeting slightly fewer, though not significantly less, children for abuse evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Applied accurately and consistently, the recently validated, 4-variable CPR could theoretically improve the accuracy of AHT screening in PICU settings.

Derivation of a clinical prediction rule for pediatric abusive head trauma.

OBJECTIVES: Abusive head trauma is a leading cause of traumatic death and disability during infancy and early childhood. Evidence-based screening tools for abusive head trauma do not exist. Our research objectives were 1) to measure the predictive relationships between abusive head trauma and isolated, discriminating, and reliable clinical variables and 2) to derive a reliable, sensitive, abusive head trauma clinical prediction rule that-if validated-can inform pediatric intensivists' early decisions to launch (or forego) an evaluation for abuse. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional, observational. SETTING: Fourteen PICUs. PATIENTS: Acutely head-injured children less than 3 years old admitted for intensive care. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Applying a priori definitional criteria for abusive head trauma, we identified clinical variables that were discriminating and reliable, calculated likelihood ratios and post-test probabilities of abuse, and applied recursive partitioning to derive an abusive head trauma clinical prediction rule with maximum sensitivity-to help rule out abusive head trauma, if negative. Pretest probability (prevalence) of abusive head trauma in our study population was 0.45 (95 of 209). Post-test probabilities of abusive head trauma for isolated, discriminating, and reliable clinical variables ranged from 0.1 to 0.86. Some of these variables, when positive, shifted probability of abuse upward greatly but changed it little when negative. Other variables, when negative, largely excluded abusive head trauma but increased probability of abuse only slightly when positive. Some discriminating variables demonstrated poor inter-rater reliability. A cluster of five discriminating and reliable variables available at or near the time of hospital admission identified 97% of study patients meeting a priori definitional criteria for abusive head trauma. Negative predictive value was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: A more completeunderstanding of the specific predictive qualities of isolated, discriminating, and reliable variables could improve screening accuracy. If validated, a reliable, sensitive, abusive head trauma clinical prediction rule could be used by pediatric intensivists to calculate an evidence-based, patient-specific estimate of abuse probability that can inform-not dictate-their early decisions to launch (or forego) an evaluation for abuse.

Test characteristics of an automated age- and temperature-adjusted tachycardia alert in pediatric septic shock.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to create and analyze the performance of an automated triage tool alerting triage nursing staff and physicians to an abnormal heart rate consistent with septic shock in a pediatric emergency department. METHODS: A computerized best-practice alert (BPA) triage system corrected heart rate for temperature (5 beats per minute for each 1°F above 100°F or 9.6-10 beats per minute for each 1°C > 36°C) and alarmed on tachycardia. If patients appeared ill and/or had medical comorbidities predisposing them to sepsis, a "shock protocol" was activated. Sensitivity was calculated for patients clinically diagnosed with shock during the study period. RESULTS: During the study period (February to August 2010), the BPA was triggered in 4552 (11.5%) of 39,697 visits. Mean age was 5.4 years (range, 18 days to 18 years); 53% were female. The tool was 81% sensitive in identifying the 210 patients with shock. Missed patients were more likely to be previously healthy (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.2), younger (5.7 vs 8.7 years, P = 0.004), and less likely to have a malignancy (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.8). The tool was 89% specific; positive and negative predictive values were 4% and 99.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The BPA-automated sensitive triage tool, based solely on initial temperature and heart rate, led to the identification of most children with septic shock, even before clinical acumen and laboratory values were incorporated into the diagnostic algorithm.

Comparison of Rapid-Response Systems Across Multisite Locations of a Pediatric Hospital System.

OBJECTIVES: Rapid response (RR) systems reduce mortality and cardiopulmonary arrests outside the ICU. Patient characteristics, RR practices, and hospital context and/or mechanism influence post-RR outcomes. We aim to describe and compare RR function and outcomes within our institution's multiple sites. METHODS: We conducted a 3-year retrospective study to compare RR use, clinical characteristics, and outcomes between our hospital's central campus (CC) and 2 satellite campuses (SCs). RR training and procedures are uniform across all campuses. RESULTS: Among the 2935 RRs reviewed, 1816 occurred during index admissions at the CC and 405 occurred at SCs. CC, when compared with SCs, had higher age at RR (3.2 years vs 1.4 years), prevalence of complex chronic conditions (62.4% vs 34.4%), surgical complications (20.2% vs 5%), severity of illness, and risk of mortality (P < .001). CC had higher daytime RR activations, longer time from admission to RR, and more activations by nurses (P < .001). Respiratory diagnoses were most prevalent uniformly, but cardiac, neurologic, and hematologic diagnoses were higher at CC (P < .001). Cardiac and/or respiratory arrests during RR and transfers to the ICU were similar. Cardiorespiratory interventions post-RR, hospital length of stay, and mortality were higher and ICU stay was shorter (P < .01) in the CC. Outcomes were mainly affected by patient characteristics and not RR factors on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patient illness severity, RR characteristics, and outcomes are significantly different in our multisite locations. Outcomes are predominantly affected by patient severity and not RR characteristics. Standardized RR training and procedures likely balance the effect of varying RR characteristics on eventual outcomes.

Pediatric tracheostomies: a recent experience from one academic center.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the indications, surgical timing, length of stay, hospital charges, and discharge disposition of pediatric tracheostomy patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Large urban academic pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy children and adolescents undergoing tracheostomy placement over a 24-month period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hospital database records were used to determine demographics and readmission rates, tabulate charges, and confirm deaths. Indications for tracheostomies included airway obstruction, inadequate airway protection, chronic lung disease, neuromuscular weakness, and central hypoventilation. Surgical timing of the tracheostomy was grouped into three categories: prolonged mechanical ventilation, elective, or emergent. The overall median hospital stay was 46 days (range 14-254) with a median hospital charge of $136,718 (range $36,237-$913,934). The prolonged mechanical ventilation group underwent a tracheostomy after a median of 26 days (mean 37.5 days) on the ventilator. Eighty-one percent of children were discharged home; 63% of children were readmitted within 6 months, with 11% requiring four or more admissions. The six-month mortality rate was 13%; no deaths were related to the tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Children with tracheostomies are a heterogeneous population. Children who require tracheostomy for long-term mechanical ventilation have longer hospital stays than children who receive a tracheotomy on an elective or emergent basis. Hospital readmissions should be anticipated in this complex group of patients.

Family-Initiated Pediatric Rapid Response: Characteristics, Impetus, and Outcomes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Family-initiated rapid response (FIRR) empowers families to express concern and seek care from specialized response teams. We studied FIRRs that occurred in a pediatric tertiary hospital over a 3-year period. The main aims were to describe the characteristics and outcomes of FIRRs and compare them with clinician-activated RRs (C-RRs). Of the 1,906 RRs events reviewed, 49 (2.6%) were FIRRs. All FIRRs had appropriate clinical triggers with the most common being uncontrolled pain. Chronic conditions and previous admissions were present in 61%. More than half of FIRRs had a vital sign change that should have qualified C-RR activation. Seventy-six percent FIRRs needed at least one or more interventions. Twenty-seven percent of FIRRs needed transfer to intensive care unit compared with 60% transfer rate for C-RRs. PURPOSE OF SUBMISSION/RELEVANCE TO HEALTHCARE QUALITY: Family-initiated rapid response events were activated for legitimate concerns and frequently needed clinical interventions. Enhanced information and awareness of FIRR can improve utilization of the system and enhance family satisfaction, patient safety, and outcomes. Disseminating the information on FIRR and the importance of family involvement will improve the care of children and empower family members.

A decade of pediatric tracheostomies: Indications, outcomes, and long-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the mortality and long-term outcomes of children undergoing tracheostomy. DESIGN: Retrospective chart and Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics review of patients admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit who underwent a tracheostomy between 2001 and 2011. Mortality and decannulation rates were compared based on tracheostomy indication and age. SUBJECTS: A total of 426 patients admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a large tertiary children's hospital. RESULTS: The median patient age was 1.5 years (3 days-24 years). Primary indications for tracheostomy included (a) airway obstruction, (b) congenital neurologic disease, (c) acquired neurologic disease, (d) congenital respiratory disease, and (e) acquired respiratory disease. Overall, 98 patients (23%) died during the study period, and 75th percentile survival time was 5.9 years (95%CI: 3-8). Patients undergoing a tracheostomy for airway obstruction were the least likely to die; while patients with acquired neurologic disease were most likely to die. A total of 163 patients (38%) were decannulated, and 50% were decannulated at 1.2 years (95%CI: 0.9-1.5). Patients with congenital neurologic disease were the least likely to undergo decannulation. Over half of the patients were discharged from the hospital requiring some form of mechanical respiratory support in addition to their tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest cohort of long-term follow-up to date, we have shown the overall risk of mortality varied according to the indication for the tracheostomy. We were unable to determine exact causes of death. The likelihood of being decannulated also correlates with the underlying indication for the tracheostomy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017; 52:946-953. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sutured securement of peripherally inserted central catheters yields fewer complications in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) can be secured with tape, sutures, or sutureless securement devices. Despite widespread catheter use, no standardized method of securement has been proven superior. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial of catheter securement with either tape or suture was undertaken in pediatric patients hospitalized at a tertiary children's hospital. Patient demographics, catheter dwell time, and all catheter complications were collected. All patients were followed for the entire dwell time of the catheter, including those discharged with lines still in place. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients completed the study, with 34 children in the suture group and 32 children in the tape group. Patients' ages ranged from 9 months to 19 years. Overall complication rate in our sutured group was 5.8%, and 32.4% in the tape group. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of children of varying ages, sutured PICCs were associated with significantly fewer complications than those catheters secured with tape (p=.005). The 3 most common complications included migration, occlusion, and leaking catheters.