General Anesthesia Utilization and Referral Patterns in Pediatric Dental Patients
Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
QI Project
Primary Mentor or Principal Investigator
Neena Patel
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
21-5-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
21-5-2026 1:00 PM
Abstract Text
Problem Statement/Question: Pediatric dental patients requiring dental treatment under general anesthesia at Children’s Mercy Hospital are frequently referred to external surgical settings due to long surgical wait times. The long wait times create barriers to care, delays treatment completion, and affects both healthy and medically complex patients.
Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement): There is a need to better understand the general anesthesia needs, referral patterns, and patient characteristics in a pediatric dental clinic to identify opportunities to expand internal surgical capacity and improve access to care.
Methods (include PDSA cycles):
Plan: Define GA demand by identifying pediatric dental patients referred for general anesthesia and key characteristics (age, ASA, referral setting).
Do: Retrospectively review dental clinic referrals over a six-month period.
Study: Analyze referral patterns and follow up to assess internal vs external surgical utilization.
Act: Use findings to guide expansion of internal surgical capacity to improve access and reduce treatment delays.
Results: Final results pending.
Conclusions: The GA needs of patients seen in the CMH dental clinic support expansion of internal surgical capacity. Increasing operating room block time or establishing a dedicated dental surgery center may improve access to care by reducing external referral barriers and shortening time to treatment completion for both healthy and medically complex pediatric patients.
General Anesthesia Utilization and Referral Patterns in Pediatric Dental Patients
Problem Statement/Question: Pediatric dental patients requiring dental treatment under general anesthesia at Children’s Mercy Hospital are frequently referred to external surgical settings due to long surgical wait times. The long wait times create barriers to care, delays treatment completion, and affects both healthy and medically complex patients.
Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement): There is a need to better understand the general anesthesia needs, referral patterns, and patient characteristics in a pediatric dental clinic to identify opportunities to expand internal surgical capacity and improve access to care.
Methods (include PDSA cycles):
Plan: Define GA demand by identifying pediatric dental patients referred for general anesthesia and key characteristics (age, ASA, referral setting).
Do: Retrospectively review dental clinic referrals over a six-month period.
Study: Analyze referral patterns and follow up to assess internal vs external surgical utilization.
Act: Use findings to guide expansion of internal surgical capacity to improve access and reduce treatment delays.
Results: Final results pending.
Conclusions: The GA needs of patients seen in the CMH dental clinic support expansion of internal surgical capacity. Increasing operating room block time or establishing a dedicated dental surgery center may improve access to care by reducing external referral barriers and shortening time to treatment completion for both healthy and medically complex pediatric patients.
Comments
Full text not provided by primary author
Poster Board Number: 32