Using Quality Improvement Methodology to Increase Communication of Discharge Criteria on Rounds.

Objective: Clear communication about discharge criteria with families and the interprofessional team is essential for efficient transitions of care. Our aim was to increase the percentage of pediatric hospital medicine patient- and family-centered rounds (PFCR) that included discharge criteria discussion from a baseline mean of 32% to 75% over 1 year.

Methods: We used the Model for Improvement to conduct a quality improvement initiative at a tertiary pediatric academic medical center.

The Development of a Long Peripheral Catheter Program at a Large Pediatric Academic Center: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new long peripheral catheter (LPC) program at a large academic center in an effort to reduce the use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and their related complications.

Methods: The pilot participants were hospitalized children, age >2 years, with a need for noncentral intravenous access for 2 to 29 days, or laboratory blood draw >5 times per day. Patients expected to discharge with intravenous access were excluded.