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  Financial Outcomes by Severity Across Children's Hospitals

  Jonathan Hartley, Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Matt Hall, David C. Synhorst, Jessica L. Markham, and James Gay

  Background: Hospitalizations represent a significant driver of healthcare costs for children. Little is known about how payor type and the severity of children cared for on the general pediatric inpatient floor impact a hospital’s financial outcomes. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to compare financial outcomes of pediatric hospitalizations to the general floor across patient severity quartiles. Secondary objectives included financial outcomes stratified by payor type across severity quartiles. Methods: Retrospective cohort study included children aged 0-18 years discharged during calendar year 2019 from hospitals that reported clinical information to the Pediatric Health Information System database and financial data to the Revenue Management Program (Children’s Hospital Association, CHA). We excluded newborns, surgical and OB admissions, children requiring PICU or NICU, and transfers in and out. We calculated the ratio of reimbursements to costs (CCR; CCR <1.0 represents a financial liability to hospitals) and compared the CCR across severity quartiles and by payor type. Severity was determined using the Hospitalization Resource Intensity Score for Kids (H-Risk). Results: This study included 287,658 children within fourteen children’s hospitals. Patients were divided among four quartiles of H-Risk with quartile one being the least severe and quartile four the most. The majority of patients were in quartile one (55.5%) and had a public payor (54.4%). As severity increased the number of children with chronic complex conditions increased (CCC; 19.5% with 1 or greater CCC for quartile one and 88.5% for quartile four) and length of stay increased (a geometric mean of 1.8 days for quartile one and 11.3 days for quartile four). Overall, the CCR was 1.1 across all payors and severity levels representing a slight financial gain. Among private payors the CCR varied from 1.5 to 1.7 across severity quartiles. The median net financial gain ranged from $2,496 in quartile one to $37,257 in quartile four. Among public payors the CCR varied from 0.7 to 0.8 across severity quartiles. The median net financial loss ranged from $1,893 in quartile one to $22,513 in quartile four. Conclusions: Not unexpectedly, the financial gains and losses were higher for patients in higher severity quartiles. However, the net gain or loss varied substantially by payor. Utilizing the CCR in conjunction with the patient severity and payor mix may inform payment models and hospital operations, such as staffing models and patient placement, to ensure financial solvency.

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  Implementation of Longitudinal Learning Curricula Results in Improved ITE Scores and ABP Certifying Examination Pass Rates

  Angela Etzenhouser, Emily Killough, and Danielle Reed

  OBJECTIVE: To improve In-Training Examination (ITE) Scores and American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Certifying Examination pass rates, our program implemented two longitudinal learning curricula; the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these curricula. BACKGROUND: In 2018, we developed the “ITE Study Plan” which requires participation for residents whose ITE score falls below the national average. Residents develop a study plan that incorporates a minimum of 10 PREP questions per week along with any additional learning modalities they wish to utilize. Progress and compliance with the study plan is monitored monthly by an Associate Program Director. In 2019, the program implemented the Structured Independent Learner Curriculum (SILC), based on the work of Dr. Kris Rooney at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. The SILC curriculum is required for all residents in the program and consists of earning “credits” for completing various board-relevant learning objectives each month. For lighter rotations, 6 credits per month are required. For more time-intensive months, 3 credits per month are required. Residents obtain credits for required learning such as conference attendance, online modules, and presentation of Morning Report. Additional credits can be earned according to the resident’s learning preferences and include online questions, articles, and podcasts. METHODS: In-Training Exam scores, ABP Certifying Exam scores, and ABP pass rates were tracked over a five-year period. Program scores were compared with the mean scores of all programs published with the ITE and ABP score reports. RESULTS: Since implementation of these two measures, our program has seen increased compliance with conference attendance and rotation requirements, a 330% increase in completed PREP questions, and an incremental rise in ITE scores above national means for both second- and third-year residents. ITE scores for interns remained stable over the study period. The program also saw an increase in ABP Certifying Examination pass rates, including in 2021 when nationally ABP pass rates were significantly lower. CONCLUSION: Implementation of longitudinal learning curricula improves both In-Training Examination Scores and American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Examination pass rates while reinforcing habits of life-long learning.

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  Assessing and Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients at Risk for Infertility

  Emily Burnett, Tennille Hilyard, and Julie Strickland

  Fertility consultation is a recognized standard that should be offered to pediatric patients with fertility threatening diagnoses or undergoing fertility threatening therapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine how patients who did proceed with fertility preservation differ from those who declined the procedure. This study aims to assess barriers that may contribute to the underutilization of fertility preservation procedures after a formal consultation is completed.

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  Examining Diagnostic Variability Among Pediatric Subspecialists in Case Examples of Infant Head Injury

  Angela Doswell, Emily Killough, James Anderst, Timothy Zinkus, and Ashley Sherman

  Background: Clinical presentation, imaging, and ophthalmologic findings are important factors in distinguishing between noninflicted and abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants. However, little is known about agreement between pediatric subspecialists regarding diagnosis and timing of AHT in infants. Hypothesis/Objects: The primary outcome was differences in rates of AHT diagnosis among different types of pediatric subspecialists using case examples of infant head injury. The secondary outcome was qualitative trends in clinical reasoning related to injury timing. Methods: Four case examples of infant head injury were developed into an online survey. Cases were categorized as: (1) “bilateral mixed density subdural hemorrhages (SDHs)”; (2) “hyperdense right/interhemispheric SDH”; (3) “bilateral SDHs with membranes”; and (4) “hyperdense right SDH”. Each case assessed diagnosis regarding infant head injury, likelihood of AHT diagnosis, and timing of head injury given clinical presentation, laboratory, neuroradiology, and ophthalmologic findings. Participants evaluated at least 1 possible case of AHT during their career and identified as being a part of 1 (or more) of the following 5 pediatric subspecialties: Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP), Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM), Pediatric Critical Care (PCC), Neurosurgery (NS) and Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM). The response selected by most CAPs was the reference and compared across subspecialties using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Bonferroni corrections were used to determine statistical significance. Qualitative responses were coded individually, with more frequent responses being grouped into such categories as clinical presentation (i.e., symptoms, labs, or other information provided in clinical vignette), neuroimaging findings (i.e., SDH characteristics) and ophthalmologic findings (i.e., presence and/or type or retinal hemorrhages). Results/Conclusion: A total of 288 participants completed at least 1 case. Roughly 26.7% of participants were CAPs, and 64% of participants reported evaluating at least 26 cases of possible AHT during their careers. For case 1, 100% of CAPs diagnosed AHT with no significant difference detected across subspecialties (100% PEM, 83.3% PCC, 100% NS, and 97.1% PHM diagnosed AHT). For case 2, 57.9% of CAPs did not diagnose AHT, but significantly fewer PHM (34.9%, p=0.0061), PEM (28.0%, p<0.0001) and NS participants (24.0%, p=0.0033) did not diagnose AHT. For case 3, 72.2% of CAPs diagnosed AHT with no significant difference detected across subspecialties (73.6% PEM, 66.7% PCC, 80.8% NS, and 84.1% PHM diagnosed AHT). For case 4, 39.4% of CAPs reported uncertainty with AHT diagnosis, with no significant difference detected across subspecialties (34.8% PEM, 50.0% PCC, 42.3% NS, and 34.3% PHM reported uncertainty with AHT diagnosis). In case 1, most participants reported neuroimaging findings as most helpful with injury timing. In cases 2 through 4, most participants reported clinical presentation as most helpful with injury timing. Statistically significant diagnostic variability across pediatric subspecialties was detected in only 1 case example of infant head injury; however, variability persisted across the 3 remaining cases. Further research and/or education regarding the determination of AHT diagnosis and timing of infant head injuries is warranted to aid in the medical decision-making process and decrease diagnostic variability.

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  Financial Outcomes by Severity Across Children's Hospitals

  Jonathan Hartley, Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Matt Hall, James Gay, David C. Synhorst, and Jessica L. Markham

  Background: Hospitalizations represent a significant driver of healthcare costs for children. Little is known about how payor type and the severity of children cared for on the pediatric medical inpatient floor impact a hospital’s financial outcomes. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to compare financial outcomes of pediatric hospitalizations to the medical inpatient floor across patient severity quartiles. Secondary objectives included financial outcomes stratified by payor type across severity quartiles. Methods: Retrospective cohort study included children aged 0-18 years discharged during calendar year 2019 from hospitals that reported clinical information to the Pediatric Health Information System database and financial data to the Revenue Management Program (Children’s Hospital Association, CHA). We excluded newborns, surgical and OB admissions, children requiring PICU or NICU, and transfers in and out. We calculated the ratio of reimbursements to costs (CCR; CCR <1.0 represents a financial liability to hospitals) and compared the CCR across severity quartiles and by payor type. A net margin median was calculated as median reimbursement minus median costs. Severity was determined using the Hospitalization Resource Intensity Score for Kids (H-Risk). Results: This study included 163,656 children within 14 children’s hospitals. Patients were divided equally among four quartiles of H-Risk with quartile 1 being the least severe and quartile 4 the most. The majority of patients had a public payor (54.4%). As severity increased the number of children with chronic complex conditions increased (CCC; 6.8% with 1 or greater CCC for quartile 1 and 78.7% for quartile 4) and length of stay increased (a geometric mean of 1.4 days for quartile 1 and 3 days for quartile 4). Overall, the CCR was 1.1 across all payors and severity levels representing a slight positive margin. Among private payors the CCR varied from 1.6 to 1.7 across severity quartiles which resulted in a median net positive margin $2,544 in quartile 1 and $7,855 in quartile 4. Among public payors the CCR varied from 0.7 to 0.8 across severity quartiles which resulted in a median net negative margin of ($1,404) in quartile 1 and ($905) in quartile 4. Conclusions: Net financial outcomes varied substantially by payor. Utilizing the CCR in conjunction with the patient severity may inform payment models and hospital operations, such as staffing models and patient placement, to ensure financial solvency.

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  Improving Antibiotic Durations for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Pediatric Urgent Care Clinics

  Megan Hamner, Amanda Nedved, Holly Austin, Donna Wyly, Alaina N. Burns, Brian Lee, and Rana El Feghaly

  Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are the second most common diagnosis leading to pediatric antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient setting after respiratory diagnoses. However, most antibiotic stewardship programs have mainly focused on respiratory diagnoses. Children seen in the ambulatory setting for SSTIs often receive >7 days of antibiotics, although current society guidelines recommend 5-7 days for most diagnoses. Objective: To increase the percentage of patients receiving 5-7 days of oral antibiotics for SSTIs from 58% to 75% by December 31st, 2021, in pediatric urgent care clinics (UCCs). Design/Methods: We formed a multidisciplinary team in April 2020. We completed cause-and-effect analyses and developed a driver diagram (Figure 1). Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle 1 provided an update on current guidelines for UCC providers. PDSA cycle 2 modified the electronic health record to display antimicrobial order sentences from shortest to longest duration. PDSA cycle 3 provided project outcome and balancing measure updates to UCC providers at regular intervals. We created a monthly report of patients 90 days and older seen in UCCs with a final diagnosis of SSTIs including impetigo, abscesses, cellulitis, erysipelas, folliculitis, paronychia, and animal bites. Our outcome measure is the percentage of patients receiving 5-7 days of oral antibiotics for SSTIs. Process measure is the percentage of prescriptions selected from a folder. Balancing measure is the number of patients returning for SSTI within 14 days of their visit. Results are displayed using an annotated control chart. Results: The percentage of patients receiving 5-7 days of oral antibiotics during the baseline period (June 2019-June 2020) was 58%. After project initiation in April 2020, this increased to 68%, and consistently increased following PDSA cycles to a sustainable rate of >80% (Figure 2). A total of 1,971 UCC visits were included in the analysis. Process measure revealed less than 10% of providers utilize prescription folders. There was no change in balancing measure numbers. Conclusion: Prior to our project, only 58% of children seen in pediatric UCCs for SSTIs received the recommended antibiotic duration. By addressing primary drivers uncovered through QI methodology, we surpassed our goal of 75%. Additional PDSA cycles are planned along with expansion to other departments. This work will allow us to expand antibiotic stewardship efforts to other infectious diagnoses as well.

  Presented at 2022 PAS Conference; Denver, CO; April 2022.

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  Outpatient Emergency Preparedness

  Mary Haywood

  It is commonly believed that medical emergencies do not present to general pediatric offices. However, it has been estimated that 0.9-42 emergencies per office site/year occur. The most common presentations are respiratory in nature. However, children can also present with dehydration, seizure, psychiatric or behavioral complaints. Despite this, most offices are not prepared to handle these presentations for various reasons. Multiple studies have showed that preparedness in inpatient settings is improved with education, implementation, or protocols and deliberate practice with mock codes. However, there have been few studies in the outpatient setting. One study utilized simulation as a tool to improve preparedness in an outpatient setting. This study hopes to improve outpatient preparedness as well as identify latent safety threats in the outpatient setting by utilizing rapid cycle simulation in clinics around the Kansas City area.

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  Parental Teach Back in the ED setting for Non-English Speaking Families

  Rohan Akhouri

  90 million Americans have low health literacy1.in Missouri 35% of adults have prose literacy at or below basic skill level2. Literacy, more specifically health literacy, is a modifiable social determinant of health that has a large impact on patient care and outcome. Poor health literacy in adults is associated with a higher number of ED visits and worse health outcomes3,4. Teach back is a method used in multiple pediatric and adult settings, shown to improve patient outcomes and comfort with discharge instructions5. There is limited data regarding teach back in non-English speaking patients and its efficacy with this group of patients. Our long-term goal is to address disparity in discharge education for non-English speaking patients in the Emergency Department with the use of the teach back method. Our central hypothesis is that using the “Teach Back” method with non-English speaking patients will improve patient medication compliance, and reduce return to ED. To test our central hypothesis and attain the overall objective, we will pursue the following specific aims: Aim 1. Use teach back with non-English speaking patients for discharge instructions. Our working hypothesis is that using teach back for non-English speaking patients will improve patient understanding of discharge instructions and reduce ED return times. We will complete surveys post-discharge with families via phone Aim 2. Measure patient compliance with medications after discharge. Our central hypothesis is that using teach back in the ED setting at discharge will improve patient medication compliance.

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  Patient Attitudes, Perceptions, Knowledge, and Beliefs Regarding Immigration Status in the Healthcare Setting

  Anik Patel

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  Rates of Physical Abuse Screening and Detection in Infants with Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs)

  Angela Doswell, James Anderst, Joel Tieder, Henry T. Puls, and BRUE Research and Quality Improvement Network

  Background: “Apparent Life-Threatening Events” (ALTEs) have been associated with child physical abuse (CPA). In 2016, “Brief Resolved Unexplained Event” (BRUE) and the development of its clinical guidelines and risk-stratification replaced ALTE. However, it is unknown if there is a similar association between BRUEs and CPA. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine the rate of CPA in infants presenting with a BRUE, examine differences between infants with and without CPA, and to examine rates of diagnostic testing used to detect CPA. Methods: This study was part of the BRUE Research and Quality Improvement Network, composed of 15 hospitals. Subjects were infants presenting with BRUE in emergency department or inpatient settings. Subjects were followed from BRUE presentation through the first year of life for possible diagnosis of CPA at either initial BRUE or subsequent presentations. The primary outcome was CPA diagnosis at either initial BRUE or subsequent presentations. CPA was the only maltreatment type identified. The secondary outcomes were minor evidence of trauma and diagnostic testing used to detect CPA (head imaging, skeletal survey, and/or liver transaminases) at initial BRUE presentation. Chi-square tests assessed for differences. Results/Conclusion: Of the 2036 infants presenting with a BRUE, 7 (0.3%) were diagnosed with CPA, 5 of whom had findings consistent with abusive head trauma (AHT). Only 1 infant was diagnosed with CPA (cutaneous injury) at initial BRUE presentation (<0.1%). For the remaining cases, 1 infant was diagnosed with AHT within 3 days, 1 with AHT and cutaneous injury within 31-60 days, 1 with abusive fractures within 31-60 days and 3 with AHT more than 60 days after initial BRUE presentation. Infants diagnosed with CPA were more likely to be White (85.7% vs. 48.3%, p<0.05), to exhibit color change (100% vs. 51.1%, p=0.01) and have minor evidence of trauma (14.3% vs. 0.3%, p<0.001) at initial BRUE presentation. There was no difference between CPA diagnosis and BRUE risk stratification. There were 7 (0.3%) infants with minor evidence of trauma: 1 was diagnosed with CPA, 3 were iatrogenic, 1 birth-related and 2 multiple yet nonspecific minor traumas. Of all infants, only 6.2% underwent head imaging, 7% skeletal survey, and 12.1% liver transaminases. Skeletal survey was more likely to be performed if there was minor evidence of trauma (42.9 vs. 6.9%, P <0.001) or a concerning social history (13.9% vs. 5.9%, p <0.05). Head imaging was more often performed if infants had minor evidence of trauma (71.4% vs. 6.0%; p< 0.001), family history of sudden unexplained death (10.2% vs. 6.3%; p= 0.047) or concerning social history (22.8% vs. 5.4%; p< 0.001). There was a lower rate of CPA in infants at initial BRUE presentation (<0.1%) than in infants with ALTE, although testing rates at initial BRUE presentation were also low. Minor evidence of trauma and other clinical features appeared to raise suspicion and initiate diagnostic testing to detect CPA. Further research is warranted to systematically identify and diagnose infants with BRUE at increased risk for CPA.

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  Spending on Public Benefit Programs and Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences

  Megan Collins, Matt Hall, P J. Chung, Jessica L. Markham, Jessica L. Bettenhausen, L M. Plencer, Molly Krager, Kathyrn Kyler, D Bard, Kayla R. Heller, Roxana Guggenmous, Jordan Keys, and Henry T. Puls

  Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be associated with poor health outcomes, and children living in poverty are more likely to experience ACEs. Our objective was to estimate the association between spending on benefit programs and cumulative exposure to ACEs among children. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined state and federal spending, at the state-level, on 5 categories of public benefit programs: cash, housing, and in-kind assistance; housing infrastructure; childcare assistance; refundable Earned Income Tax Credit; and Medical Assistance Programs (e.g., Medicaid). The primary exposure was median annual spending per person living below the federal poverty limit across 2010-2017 Federal fiscal years (i.e., one observation per state). The primary outcome was state-level percentage of children aged <18 years having ever been exposed to>≥ 4 ACEs, as reported in 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Pearson correlations estimated unadjusted correlations. Linear regression models estimated associations after adjustment for states’ racial and ethnic demographics. A sub-analysis including only children 0-8 years of age was conducted to more closely focus on children who could have been first exposed to ACEs in the 2010-2017 Federal fiscal years. Results: Among the 51 states, a median of 6.3% of children (IQR: 5.2, 7.6) had exposure to ≥4 ACEs. Spending varied between states and was correlated with the percent of children with ≥ 4 ACEs (r= -0.41 [95% CI: -0.62, -0.15, p= 0.003]; Figure 1). Total spending on all benefit categories combined was associated with lower exposure to ≥ 4 ACEs (β coefficient= -0.11 [95% CI: -0.18, -0.04]; p= 0.005). This association suggests that for each additional $1000 spent per person living in poverty, there was an associated -0.7% point difference, or 496,379 fewer children accumulating ≥4 ACEs nationally. Increased spending in each individual benefit category was also associated with decreased reported ACEs exposure (Table 1, Figure 2; all p <0.05). Among children 0-8 years, greater average annual total spending as well as spending on cash, housing, and in-kind assistance; childcare assistance; and Medical Assistance Programs remained significantly associated with decreased reported ACEs exposure (Table 1). Conclusions: Average annual spending on benefit programs was associated with less cumulative exposure to ACEs. Investments in public benefit programs not only decrease childhood poverty but may also have broad positive effects on near- and long-term child well-being beyond the programs’ stated objectives.

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  Assessing Early Use and Complications of Gastrostomy Blended Feeds

  James Fraser, Shai Stewart MD, Kristen L. Sayers, Amy L. Pierce, Beth A. Orrick, Kayla B. Briggs, Wendy Jo Svetanoff, Tolulope A. Oyetunji MD MPH, Shawn D. St Peter, and Richard J. Hendrickson

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  Implementation of a Transition Readiness Assessment and Transition Discussion Documentation in a Type 1 Diabetes Clinic

  Sonalee Ravi

  Background/Objective: Our institution utilizes a general transition readiness assessment to facilitate transition discussions. Patients rate six areas of knowledge, eight skills, and confidence in ability to transfer care successfully prior to age 22, then select a goal for their next visit. Discussions are documented in the medical record. Our aim was to implement this assessment with a 20% documentation rate after six months.

  Methods: In March 2021, we trained providers and diabetes educators about the need for transition planning, the differences between transition planning and transfer, and the need for documentation. We added three diabetes-specific questions related to insulin adjustments, sexual function/pregnancy, and diabetes emergencies to the assessment tool. In April 2021, the transition assessment was implemented in clinic visits and all patients aged 17-years and older were asked to complete the assessment prior to their clinic visit. In June 2021, emails were jointly sent to providers and educators the Friday prior to visit indicating patients who needed transition assessments. Monthly data were pulled from the medical record that indicated percentage of eligible patients who had a documented discussion.

  Results: Our clinic improved transition assessment documentation from 4.81% to 43.75% after six months. Conclusions: Our clinic successfully increased awareness and use of a general transition readiness assessment to guide transition planning. Future directions include utilizing clinic nurses to provide in-clinic reminders. We will also expand the assessment to younger ages to identify knowledge gaps and provide targeted education videos to improve self-management of diabetes and complete transfer of care.

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  Reimagining Bioethics Curricula: Centering Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  Shika Kalevor, Marie-Laura Allirajah, Isabella Hernandez, and Phoebe Ozuah

  As bioethicists, we engage with social, political, and health care systems that all center on relationality. Part of our responsibility in occupying space within these systems is recognizing where bias, power, and privilege lie, and how our positionality can either contribute to or take away from progress toward a morally conscious society. Bioethicists have the opportunity to remediate preventable harms and address issues of equity, justice, diversity, and oppression. We can also address these issues as core to our growing knowledge base. From our own experiences as bioethics students from multidisciplinary backgrounds, we know that these topics are not sufficiently addressed within academia or they are considered peripheral subjects. Educational institutions can play a role in instituting systemic change, intentional anti-racist practices, and more inclusive frameworks that confront the systems of oppression which contribute to health inequity.Many institutions of higher education released statements committing to address racism and white supremacy in the wake of the pandemic and racial reckoning of 2020. An academic curriculum that reflects these commitments as core to burgeoning bioethicists is a method of action against historical injustice that informs health disparity in care, outcomes, and experiences of the most marginalized.Our purpose is to examine what is included and what is excluded as core learning across three Master of Bioethics programs in the United States. In doing so, we aim to encourage institutions to begin a conversation about the creation of curricula that reflect our priorities as a field moving forward in this new landscape.

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  Umbilical Access in Laparoscopic Surgery in Infants less than 3 months: Single Institution Retrospective Review

  James Fraser, Kayla B. Briggs, Wendy Jo Svetanoff, Rebecca M. Rentea, Pablo Aguayo, David Juang, Jason D. Fraser, Charles L. Snyder, Richard J. Hendrickson, Shawn D. St Peter, and Tolulope A. Oyetunji

  PURPOSE: Umbilical access in laparoscopic surgery has been cited as a potential factor for increased complications in low birth weight infants and those less than three months old. Previous series noted a self-reported complication rate of 10.6% among 329 pediatric surgeons via anonymous survey, citing carbon dioxide (CO2) embolism as the most common complication. We report four-year outcomes with blunt transumbilical laparoscopic access to examine the safety of this technique. METHODS: Following IRB approval, a retrospective database of patients less than three months of age who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy or inguinal hernia repair from 2016-2019 at a tertiary care academic center was reviewed. Operative reports, anesthesia records, post-operative documentation, and postoperative telephone calls were reviewed for complications related to umbilical access. Complications included bowel injury, bleeding umbilical vessels, umbilical vein cannulation, CO2 embolism, umbilical surgical site infection (SSI), umbilical hernia requiring repair, and death. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-five patients met criteria for analysis (Table 1); 246 laparoscopic pyloromyotomy and 119 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs. Median age at operation was 5.9 weeks [4.3,8.8] and median weight was 3.9 kg [3.4,4.6]. Median operative time was 20 minutes [15,28]. Nine complications occurred for a total complication rate of 2.5%; 5 umbilical SSIs (1.4%), 1 bowel injury upon entry requiring laparoscopic repair (0.2%), 1 umbilical hernia requiring repair at 22 days after surgery (0.2%), and 2 cases of severe hypotension and bradycardia upon insufflation that resolved with exsufflation (0.5%). There were no intraoperative mortalities and no signs or symptoms of CO2 embolism. CONCLUSIONS: In this series umbilical access in laparoscopic surgery in neonates less than three months of age and less than 5kg was safe, with minimal complications.

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  Congenital Abnormalities of the Lower Airways and Lungs

  Christopher M. Oermann

  Goals and Objectives. Participants will be able to: Describe the 5 stages of fetal lung development. Summarize the prenatal identification and management of congenital abnormalities of the lower airways and lung (CALAL). Explain the classification of CALAL. Compare the clinical characteristics, pathology, and management of common CALAL. Discuss the long-term prognosis of CALAL.

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  HPV Cancer Free: Adolescent Vaccination

  Sharon Humiston

  Objectives:

  1. Explain why HPV vaccine is important enough to be routinely recommended for young people (i.e., HPV cancer prevention).

  2. Give an HPV vaccination recommendation that is effective and succinct using the same way, same day approach to the introduction of HPV vaccine.

  3. Answer the most frequently asked questions about HPV vaccine accurately and succinctly.

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  Getting Back on Track with Cancer Prevention and Adolescent Immunizations

  Sharon Humiston

  Objectives:

  1.Explain why HPV vaccine is important enough to be routinely recommended for young people (i.e., HPV cancer prevention).

  2. Give an HPV vaccination recommendation that is effective and succinct using the same way, same day approach to the introduction of HPV vaccine.

  3. Answer the most frequently asked questions about HPV vaccine accurately and succinctly.

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  Utilization of Enteral Tranexamic Acid To Stabilize Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Pediatric Patients on ECMO

  Gina Patel, Jenna Miller, Thomas M. Attard, and Asdis Finnsdottir Wagner

  Background:

  Incidence and management of Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding on ECMO isn’t well reported Patients on ECMO require systemic anticoagulation making GI bleeding difficult to manage We describe the use of enteral tranexamic acid (TXA) in two pediatric patients with GI hemorrhage on ECMO

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  BMI and Associated Variables in A Pediatric Gender Clinic Sample

  Mirae J. Fornander, Christine Moser, Anna Egan, and Timothy A. Roberts

  Background: Studies of transgender/gender diverse (TGD) youth indicate a high prevalence of overweight/obesity and concern for unhealthy weight control behavior.
  
  Objective: Describe BMI and the association of medication use, well-being, and recreational activities in treatment-naïve pediatric TGD patients.
  
  Design/Methods: Chart review of 302 patients (age 3-19, 73.5% sex assigned at birth (SAB) female; 85.8% white) from 2017-2020. BMI was calculated by age and SAB using CDC growth charts. Parents reported medication use; parent and self-reported Pediatric Quality of Life (PEDS-QL) Well-Being and activities were surveyed electronically.
  
  Results: By BMI category, 3.3% were underweight (BMI<5%); 49.4% were >85% and 29.5% fell >95%. Overweight and obesity rates were higher than national norms (31.2% >85%; X2=45.92, p<.01; 16.4% >95%; X2=37.11, p< .01). BMI Z-scores varied by SAB (Female M=0.91, SD=1.18; Male .54, 1.32; F(1, 300)=5.2, p<.05). PEDS-QL parent-reported well-being was a significant predictor of BMI (b=-.018, p<.01, R2=.059); an increase in well-being predicted a decrease in BMI. Parent-reported activities (i.e., participation in performing arts/debate, social/advocacy groups, exercise); creative arts involvement was associated with BMI >85% (M=1.49, .89, t=2, p<.05). Self-reported activities (i.e., creative arts, performing arts/debate, academics, exercise, games, spending time with family/friends, social advocacy); watching/listening to media was associated with BMI >85% (M=1.38,.79, t=3.63, p<.01). Conversely, spending time with friends and family was associated with average BMI (M=.63, 1.04, t=-2.09, p<.05). Medications were used by 55% of patients; gastrointestinal (M=1.91, .77, t=7.69, p< .01), anti-emetic (M=2.29, .78, t=13.12, p< .01), anxiolytic (M=1.43, .79, t=3.11, p<.01), diabetes (M=2.12, .79, t=2.44, p<.01), endocrine (M=1.88, .79, t=1.97, p<.05), mood stabilizer (M= 1.67, .77, t= 2.71, p<.01), norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor (M=1.69, .80, t=4.01, p<.05), and SSRI/SNRI (M=1.04, .72, t=2.05, p<.05) were associated with BMI >85%.
  
  Conclusion(s): Obesity is a common problem among TGD youth presenting for gender affirming care. Female SAB, lower well-being, involvement in sedentary recreational activities, and taking medications to treat gastrointestinal, endocrinologic, or psychiatric conditions were associated with elevated BMI. Spending time with family and friends was protective. Providers should address high BMI. TGD youth should be encouraged to decrease sedentary activities and improve connection with friends and family.

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference

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  Characterization of Comorbidities in Patients with a Dual Diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Cerner Health Facts

  Michael Slogic, Earl F. Glynn, Cy Nadler, Meredith Dreyer, and Sarah T. Edwards

  Background: Up to 19% of patients with Down syndrome (DS) meet diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Channell, et al, 2019). While the medical and psychological comorbidities for patients with DS or ASD are well characterized, outcomes for patients with a dual diagnosis (DS-ASD) are poorly understood. Large DS-ASD cohorts and comparison samples are needed to fill this gap, as well as methods for grouping and analyzing complex diagnostic phenotypes. Objective: Our objective is to utilize Cerner Health Facts, a multi-institutional healthcare database, to identify large populations with DS, ASD, and DS-ASD, allowing for characterization and comparison of their ICD9/10 diagnoses. A secondary objective is the development of a higher order classification system based on ICD9/10 diagnoses to allow for identification of meaningful differences in body system dysfunction across populations. Design/Methods: Patients birth to 18 years with at least one encounter in Cerner Health Facts and diagnoses of ASD, DS, or both were identified. Medical and psychological diagnoses in the form of ICD9/10 codes were extracted and combined into phenotype codes (Denny, et al, 2013). Phenotype codes were then grouped by physiologic system into compound phenotypes. Prevalence rates for these compound phenotypes were then computed and compared across the DS, ASD, and DS-ASD samples. Results: 1,087 patients with DS-ASD, 22,862 patients with DS, and 98,979 patients with ASD were identified. Thirty-three compound phecode groupings were developed from 1,886 phecodes. As an example, 47.9% of DS-ASD patients were noted to have diagnoses in the Pulmonology/Sleep grouping, similar to those with DS. However, Pulmonology/Sleep diagnoses were over three times more prevalent compared to those with ASD. In the DS-ASD population, Neurologic/Musculoskeletal diagnoses were nearly 2.5 times more prevalent compared to those with DS, and over 1.75 times more prevalent when compared to those with ASD. Conclusion(s): Patients with DS-ASD had higher rates of a wide range of medical and psychological diagnoses compared to those with DS or ASD alone. The compound phenotype classification scheme is a viable method for comparing diagnoses between distinct populations, as well as aggregating differences to produce interpretable phenotypic trends. These trends can both inform clinical practice and provide the basis for future work, such as investigating the link between mortality and comorbidities in those with DS-ASD.

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference

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  Contraception counseling of adolescents seeking care in pediatric emergency departments

  Cynthia Mollen, Romina Barral, Tara Ketterer, Jungwon Min, Laurel Gabler, Lauren Poole, Amber Adams, Elizabeth Miller, Aletha Akers, and Melissa K. Miller

  Background: Efforts to increase contraceptive use among adolescents are urgently needed. One approach is to use clinical settings that do not routinely provide contraception services, such as the emergency department (ED). Though many are amenable to ED-based contraceptive care, best practices for providing this care are largely unexplored.
  
  Objective: To assess intention to initiate contraception among adolescent females immediately after receiving ED-based contraceptive counseling, and to assess counseling feasibility, contraception initiation and completion of a follow-up visit for contraceptive care.
  
  Design/Methods: Prospective cohort study in two urban pediatric EDs. Using webinar modules and in-person sessions, advanced practice providers (APPs) were trained to deliver brief contraception counseling. Through a patient-centered approach APPs discussed contraception type, same-day initiation and follow-up needs. Patients aged 15-18 years with any chief complaint were included if they were not currently pregnant and identified as high-risk for pregnancy (reported heterosexual sex within the last 6 months or likely future sexual activity, did not desire pregnancy, were not currently using hormonal contraception/copper intrauterine device). At the index visit we assessed demographics, feasibility of the counseling session (by both participant and APP) and intention to initiate contraception (5-point Likert scales), and contraception initiation/follow-up completion (assessed via medical record review and participant phone interview at 8 weeks post-index visit).
  
  Results: We trained 27 APPs. 62 adolescents have completed study procedures; mean age was 16.6 years, and 26% were White, 55% Black, 16% Hispanic. Counseling lasted a mean of 12 minutes. APPs reported: counseling was easy to deliver (97%); sufficient time to complete the counseling (89%); and feeling competent to provide the counseling (89%). Most adolescents (94%) reported satisfaction with the counseling session. Half (53%) reported high intention to initiate contraception; 13 (21%) were prescribed contraception during the index visit. Seven (11%) completed a follow-up visit.
  
  Conclusion(s): A brief contraception counseling session was feasible during a pediatric ED visit. The majority of those counseled expressed intention to initiate contraception, including some who initiated during the ED visit, but few followed-up after the ED visit. Further efforts to increase contraception access among sexually-active ED patients should include contraception initiation during ED visits.

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference

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  Impact of COVID-19 on Inpatient Utilization and Outcomes for Children with Medical Complexity

  Jessica L. Markham, Troy Richardson, Adrienne G. DePorre, Ronald Teufel, Adam Hersh, Eric Feegler, Ryan Antiel, Adam Goldin, Arda Hotz, Jayme Wilder, and Samir Shah

  Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) are a growing subpopulation of children who require intense engagement with the healthcare system including the involvement of multiple subspecialists and ancillary services. CMC often receive definitive care within children’s hospitals where subspecialty services are concentrated. While studies have reported reductions in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for generally healthy children during the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall impact of the pandemic on CMC has not been well described.
  
  Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic on inpatient utilization for CMC presenting to US children's hospitals.
  
  Design/Methods: We performed a retrospective study of CMC using the Pediatric Health Information System. We examined trends in hospitalizations (total hospitalizations [inpatient or observation], length of stay [LOS], costs, and readmissions) overall and by All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) in 2020 compared to 2017-2019. We then compared inpatient utilization and clinical outcomes during the COVID period (March 15 to May 29, 2020) to the same timeframe in the prior 3 years (pre-COVID period). Adjusted generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association of the COVID period with inpatient utilization. All models included a random hospital effect to account for clustering of discharges at the same hospital.
  
  Results: We observed changes in inpatient hospitalizations overall and by APR-DRG for CMC in 2020 compared to 2017-2019 (Figure 1). We identified 19,868 hospitalizations for CMC within our defined COVID period and another 95,575 hospitalizations for the corresponding pre-COVID period (mean: 31,858 hospitalizations per year). Total hospitalizations in the COVID period declined by a median (IQR) of 39.4% (32.6-44.4%) across hospitals. Of the top 10 most prevalent indications for hospitalization for CMC, 8 conditions experienced declines in hospitalizations during the COVID period (eg, hospitalizations for non-bacterial gastroenteritis declined 30.4%) while 2 conditions experienced increases (eg, hospitalizations for diabetes increased 10.7%) (Table 1). Overall outcomes during the COVID period including length of stay, readmission rates, cost, and mortality remained similar to the pre-COVID period (Table 2).
  
  Conclusion(s): Similar to their non-complex peers, hospitalization volumes for CMC declined during the COVID period though hospital-level outcomes remained largely unchanged.

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference

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  Lessons From the Pandemic: How a Children’s Hospital Responded to the Challenges of COVID-19

  John Lantos, Paul Kempinski, Laurie Ellison, Jennifer Watts, and Angela Myers

  The COVID-19 pandemic challenged doctors and hospital administrators as did no other event in our lifetimes. Leaders needed to develop a pandemic command structure with the agility to respond to rapidly evolving situations. They had to deal with drastic financial implications, develop new methods of delivering health care, and collaborate regionally. They learned the importance of communication with staff, policy makers, the local medical community, and the public. They had to allocate of scarce resources internally and externally, and balancing rational policy making against irrational fears. For children’s hospitals, some specific challenges included determining our role in a pandemic that predominately affected adults, doing research on the unique pediatric manifestations of disease, and dealing with questions about schools and daycare. In this workshop, leaders from hospital administration, infectious disease, and disaster preparedness will review and analyze some of our experiences and responses at a large quaternary care children’s hospital. We will use specific events and decisions to illustrate the unique challenges and our retrospective analysis of whether we could have done better. The goal of the interactive workshop is to learn together from our collective experience in order to be better prepared for future events.

  Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the mechanisms that were put in place to respond to the emergent demands of the pandemic

  2. Analyze options that were available to decision makers regarding specific choices, the reasons for the choices that they made, and downstream implications of those choices

  3. Speculate about preparedness for the next phase of this pandemic, or the next major crisis.

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference

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  Medicaid Expenditures Among Children with Documented Obesity

  Kathyrn Kyler, Matt Hall, Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Sarah Hampl, and Ann M. Davis

  Background: Obesity rates continue to rise among children, but knowledge regarding spending patterns of Medicaid enrollees with documented obesity are lacking.
  
  Objective: We aimed to describe Medicaid expenditure patterns and determine the degree to which specific clinical characteristics and conditions contribute to high expenditures among children with obesity.
  
  Design/Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of children aged 2-17 years with a diagnosis code (ICD-10) for obesity continuously enrolled in the nationally-representative 2017 Medicaid Marketscan database. Expenditures were measured as median per member per year (PMPY) spending and categorized based on prior literature from low to high PMPY expenditure groups: <80th%, 80-<95th%, 95-<99th%, and ≥99th%. Inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy expenditures were analyzed. Covariates included demographic factors, common obesity co-morbid conditions (e.g., hypertension), number of complex chronic conditions (CCCs), and number of mental health conditions. Chi square tests were used to compare PMPY spending across expenditure groups and logistic regression analyses were used to measure demographic and clinical characteristics associations for patients in the high spending groups (≥95th%).
  
  Results: We identified 300,286 children with a diagnosis of obesity. Children aged 12-17 years, of non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, with obesity comorbid conditions, at least 1 CCC, or mental health condition were most likely to be in the highest spending group. (Table 1). The highest overall median PMPY spending was from inpatient and outpatient therapy and treatment ($6,018 and $800, respectively). Mental health therapy and treatment drove the PMPY spending in the higher spending groups (≥99th% group $16,471) (Table 2). Characteristics found to be associated with being in the higher spending groups included: age 12-17 years, having an obesity comorbid condition, having ≥ 1 CCC and mental health condition, with these associations increasing considerably as the number of CCCs or mental health conditions increased (Table 3).
  
  Conclusion(s): Inpatient and outpatient mental health expenditures made up a large proportion of spending among Medicaid-enrolled children with obesity. Important drivers of cost in this population included having obesity comorbid conditions and mental health conditions. Future research is needed to determine if some of these costs are avoidable in children with obesity.
  

  Presented at the 2021 PAS Virtual Conference