Presenter Status

Fellow

Abstract Type

QI

Primary Mentor

Eugenia Pallotto, MD, MSCE

Start Date

10-5-2021 12:15 PM

End Date

10-5-2021 12:30 PM

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Description

Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement): NICU patients often encounter painful procedures and can have significant short and long-term consequences from inadequately treated pain. Ensuring adequate pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management while minimizing associated risks is paramount. Our NICU is part of the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium “Erase Pain” collaborative to improve management of postop pain in neonates. SMART Aim: Increase the percentage of patients receiving acetaminophen within one hour after surgery to greater than 70% by July 2020.

Methods (include PDSA cycles): A multidisciplinary team developed pain treatment algorithms and postop order plans to standardize the approach to postop pain management. Providers were educated about their role in eliminating postop pain through mandatory educational sessions. Expectations include discussing pain management plan on rounds and during pre and postop team handoffs, utilize standard pain treatment algorithms (Fig.1) and order plans (Fig. 2). The order plan prioritizes the acetaminophen order to STAT, to support administration within the first hour after return from surgery. Process measures include compliance with use of the post op pain algorithm and order plan. Baseline data was reviewed from January-July 2019 and post education data obtained August 2019-August 2020.

Results: Provider compliance with the order plan improved from a baseline of 16.7% of patients before education to 77.3% after intervention. Acetaminophen was administered within the first hour postoperatively more often after provider education, improving from a baseline of 41% to 74.7%. The percentage of patients receiving acetaminophen within the first hour was greater than 70% by July 2020 which precisely achieved our SMART AIM, shifts our center line (Fig. 3 and Fig 4) and is attributed to correct use of the order plan and algorithm. The percentage of elevated pain scores, monitored as a balancing measure, increased during this time period. Opioid exposure review as a balancing measure is ongoing.

Conclusions: Educating providers about the importance of discussing postop pain and administering multimodal analgesia is effective in improving ordering practices and timely acetaminophen administration. With an increase in the percentage of elevated pain scores, addressing additional system factors is needed for optimal post-op pain treatment. Future aims include investigating events contributing to delayed acetaminophen administration and implement interventions to improve pain management.

Comments

Abstract Only.

MeSH Keywords

post-operative pain; IV acetaminophen; pain algorithm; neonatal

Additional Files

QI Fig 1.png (250 kB)

QI Fig 2.jpg (58 kB)

QI CC Algorithm Fig 3.png (52 kB)

QI CC Tylenol Fig 4.png (49 kB)

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May 10th, 12:15 PM May 10th, 12:30 PM

Educating Providers: Timely post-operative pain management in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement): NICU patients often encounter painful procedures and can have significant short and long-term consequences from inadequately treated pain. Ensuring adequate pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management while minimizing associated risks is paramount. Our NICU is part of the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium “Erase Pain” collaborative to improve management of postop pain in neonates. SMART Aim: Increase the percentage of patients receiving acetaminophen within one hour after surgery to greater than 70% by July 2020.

Methods (include PDSA cycles): A multidisciplinary team developed pain treatment algorithms and postop order plans to standardize the approach to postop pain management. Providers were educated about their role in eliminating postop pain through mandatory educational sessions. Expectations include discussing pain management plan on rounds and during pre and postop team handoffs, utilize standard pain treatment algorithms (Fig.1) and order plans (Fig. 2). The order plan prioritizes the acetaminophen order to STAT, to support administration within the first hour after return from surgery. Process measures include compliance with use of the post op pain algorithm and order plan. Baseline data was reviewed from January-July 2019 and post education data obtained August 2019-August 2020.

Results: Provider compliance with the order plan improved from a baseline of 16.7% of patients before education to 77.3% after intervention. Acetaminophen was administered within the first hour postoperatively more often after provider education, improving from a baseline of 41% to 74.7%. The percentage of patients receiving acetaminophen within the first hour was greater than 70% by July 2020 which precisely achieved our SMART AIM, shifts our center line (Fig. 3 and Fig 4) and is attributed to correct use of the order plan and algorithm. The percentage of elevated pain scores, monitored as a balancing measure, increased during this time period. Opioid exposure review as a balancing measure is ongoing.

Conclusions: Educating providers about the importance of discussing postop pain and administering multimodal analgesia is effective in improving ordering practices and timely acetaminophen administration. With an increase in the percentage of elevated pain scores, addressing additional system factors is needed for optimal post-op pain treatment. Future aims include investigating events contributing to delayed acetaminophen administration and implement interventions to improve pain management.