Pediatric Medication Safety in Adult Community Hospital Settings: A Glimpse Into Nationwide Practice

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Prescription Error in a Pediatrics Outpatient Department at a Secondary-Level Community Hospital

Background Medication errors are common, especially by new trainees in primary care settings. Our study aimed at reducing the rate of prescription error in the pediatric outpatient department (OPD) of a secondary healthcare center in suburban north India using a quality improvement methodology. Methods Based on a survey and focused group discussion (FGD) involving all stakeholders, the identified problems and difficulties faced during outpatient prescriptions, interventions, and outcome parameters were drafted. The primary outcome measure was the prescription error rate evaluated by a senior resident (SR) of pediatrics, and the secondary outcome measures included the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions and investigations. Intervention Two cycles of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) were conducted on accessible drug formularies and standard treatment protocols for common pediatric conditions. Results The mean baseline prescription error was 72.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 63.2-81.1). After the implementation of the first PDSA cycle, the mean error rate was 46.5% (95% CI: 36.6-56.5). There were eight consecutive points of prescription error below the control limit (63.2% and 81.1%) of the baseline. The PDSA-2 cycle showed the same shift to below the control limit (36.6% and 56.5%). The mean error rate found at the end of the PDSA-2 cycle was 22.5% (95% CI 15.7-29.5). There was no clinically significant difference in the number of investigations or antibiotics prescribed. Conclusion The application of standardized drug formularies and standard treatment protocols (STPs) can help reduce prescription errors, especially in a primary care setting. Expansion of such techniques to other centers could be particularly useful.

Optimizing Pediatric Patient Safety in the Emergency Care Setting

Patient safety is the foundation of high-quality health care and remains a critical priority for all clinicians caring for children. There are numerous aspects of pediatric care that increase the risk of patient harm, including but not limited to risk from medication errors attributable to weight-dependent dosing and need for appropriate equipment and training. Of note, the majority of children who are ill and injured are brought to community hospital emergency departments. It is, therefore, imperative that all emergency departments practice patient safety principles, support a culture of safety, and adopt best practices to improve safety for all children seeking emergency care. This technical report outlined the challenges and resources necessary to minimize pediatric medical errors and to provide safe medical care for children of all ages in emergency care settings.

Safety Considerations for the Inpatient Medication-Use Process in Pediatric and Neonatal Patients

The delivery of safe and effective healthcare to pediatric and neonatal patients presents unique challenges to the medication-use system. The diversity of patients within this population and the consequences of ontogeny on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics directly impact the safe use of medications in children and increase the risk of adverse drug events.1 This review will explore the medication-use system for hospitalized children and neonates, discuss vulnerabilities within this system, and provide examples of advancements made to improve the pediatric medication-use system.

Improving pediatric pharmacy services in a primarily adult emergency department

Disclaimer

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Purpose

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG) guidelines for providing pediatric pharmacy services in hospitals and health systems can be used to improve medication safety wherever pediatric patients receive care, including in the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this initiative was to improve compliance with these guidelines in a primarily adult ED.

Methods

This quality improvement initiative was conducted in a level 1 trauma center ED between October 2019 and March 2020. The ASHP-PPAG guidelines were used to create practice elements applicable to the ED. An initial compliance assessment defined elements as noncompliant, partially compliant, fully compliant, or not applicable. Investigators identified interventions to improve compliance for noncompliant or partially compliant elements and then reassessed compliance following implementation. Data were expressed using descriptive statistics. This initiative was exempt from institutional review board approval.

Results

Ninety-three ED practice elements were identified within the 9 standards of the ASHP-PPAG guidelines. At the initial compliance assessment, the majority (59.8%) of practice elements were fully compliant; however, various service gaps were identified in 8 of the standards, and 16 interventions were implemented to improve compliance. At the final compliance assessment, there was a 19.5% increase in full compliance. Barriers to achieving full compliance included technology restrictions, time constraints, financial limitations, and influences external to pharmacy.

Conclusion

This quality improvement initiative demonstrated that the ASHP-PPAG guidelines can be used to improve ED pediatric pharmacy services in a primarily adult institution. The initiative may serve as an example for other hospitals to improve compliance with the guidelines.

Polypharmacy, Dosing Trends and Drug-Drug Interaction Patterns Following High-Level Limb Amputation Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To examine peri-operative medication patterns, surrounding major amputation surgeries.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of 216 cases of major amputations (transfemoral, hip disarticulation, hemipelvectomy, forequarter) at an academic hospital, examining medications, dosing changes and drug-drug interaction warnings pre- and post-operatively.

RESULTS

Medications increased in 76.9% (166/216), remained the same in 10.6% (23/216), and decreased in 12.5% (27/216) of cases. Average number of medications was 7 pre-operatively and 10 post-operatively. In 189 cases with pre-operative medications present, post-operative dosing remained the same for 74.3%, increased for 9.2%, decreased for 7.6% and was unknown for 8.9% of medications. Increases in each of type C ("monitor therapy"), D ("consider therapy modification) and X ("avoid combination") drug-drug interaction warnings were seen respectively in 59.7%, 62.0% and 5.1% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy is involved pre-operatively and increased post-operatively in most cases of major limb amputation, with agent dosing remaining the same or increased in the majority of cases. Drug-drug interaction warnings also increase. These occur at a time of abrupt changes to the body's size, compartments, and physiologic responses. More research and clinical attention are warranted given anticipated changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Pediatric medication safety considerations for pharmacists in an adult hospital setting

PURPOSE

Risks and vulnerabilities of the medication-use process in nonpediatric institutions that also serve pediatric patients are reviewed, and guidance on risk mitigation strategies is provided.

SUMMARY

There are many risks and vulnerabilities in the medication-use process as it relates to pharmacotherapy for pediatric patients admitted to adult institutions. Mitigation of these risks is critical and should encompass various available resources and strategies. Special emphasis should be placed on use of technology to improve overall safety. Available literature recommends optimization of technology and resource use, institutional support for pediatric pharmacists' involvement in managing pediatric medication use, and provision of early exposure to pediatric patients in pharmacist training programs as additional methods of mitigating risks associated with pediatric medication use in adult institutions. Adult hospitals that provide care for pediatric patients should assess their processes in order to identify hospital-specific interventions to promote pediatric medication safety.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric medication safety frameworks in U.S. adult institutions vary widely. Treating pediatric patients involves risks in all areas of the medication-use process. Optimizing technology, utilizing external resources, supporting a pediatric pharmacist, and providing early-career exposure to pediatric patients are methods to mitigate risks in institutions that primarily serve adult patients.

Graduating Pediatric Residents Entering the Hospital Medicine Workforce, 2006-2015

OBJECTIVE

In October 2016, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved the petition for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) to become the newest pediatric subspecialty. Knowledge about residents entering the PHM workforce is needed to inform certification and fellowship accreditation. This study describes the characteristics of graduating pediatric residents with PHM positions and identifies factors associated with postresidency position choices.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents, 2006-2015. Chi-square tests were used to compare responses between residents entering PHM to those entering subspecialty fellowships, and to compare residents entering PHM at community and tertiary-care hospitals. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify associations between resident and training characteristics and position choices.

RESULTS

A total of 5969 respondents completed the survey (60.6% response rate); 593 (10.3%) reported that they were entering PHM and 1954 (33.9%) reported subspecialty fellowships. Of residents entering PHM, 345 (60.7%) reported positions at tertiary-care hospitals and 194 (34.2%) reported positions at community hospitals. Seventy percent of residents entering PHM envisioned long-term PHM careers, with PHM career goals more frequently reported among residents entering community hospitalist positions (P < .01). In multivariable analysis, residents entering PHM were significantly more likely to be female, to have children, to report that family factors limited their job selection, and to have higher levels of educational debt than residents entering fellowships.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with postresidency PHM positions, including substantial educational debt and sociodemographic characteristics, may influence the development of the field as the specialty pursues fellowship accreditation.