A quality improvement study to improve inpatient problem list use.

Background: The problem list is a meaningful use incentivized criterion, and >80% of patients should have 1 problem entered as structured data.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to use a series of interventions to increase the use of the problem list for inpatients to >80% as measured by at least 1 hospital problem at discharge.

Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental time series quality improvement trial.

Deficits in EMTALA Knowledge Among Pediatric Physicians.

Objective: All US hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid are regulated by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The law was enacted to prevent hospitals from turning away patients with emergency medical conditions. The law imposes specific obligations on hospitals and their physicians, and provides severe penalties for violations.

A randomized trial of home oxygen therapy from the emergency department for acute bronchiolitis.

Objective: Hypoxia is a common reason for hospital admission in infants and children with acute bronchiolitis. No study has evaluated discharge from the emergency department (ED) on home oxygen. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of ED discharge on home oxygen in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis.

Adverse events associated with procedural sedation and analgesia in a pediatric emergency department: a comparison of common parenteral drugs.

Objectives: To compare the frequency and severity of adverse events associated with parenteral drugs commonly used for procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in a pediatric emergency department.

Methods: A database of consecutive patients receiving parenteral PSA was prospectively generated with the intent of monitoring safety in the emergency department. Data were logged onto a dedicated sedation sheet.

Preprocedural fasting and adverse events in procedural sedation and analgesia in a pediatric emergency department: are they related?

Study Objective: Fasting time before procedural sedation and analgesia in a pediatric emergency department (ED) was recently reported to have no association with the incidence of adverse events. This study further investigates preprocedural fasting and adverse events.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a prospectively generated database comprising consecutive sedation events from June 1996 to March 2003.

Usefulness of the serum electrolyte panel in the management of pediatric dehydration treated with intravenously administered fluids.

Background: The serum electrolyte panel (SEP) is a frequently ordered laboratory test, but it has unproven usefulness in the treatment of dehydrated pediatric patients. Our study purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of routinely ordering a SEP in the treatment of dehydrated pediatric patients receiving intravenous fluids (IVFs).

Methods: Children 2 months to 9 years of age who were receiving IVFs because of dehydration were prospectively studied in a pediatric emergency department (PED).