Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
QI
Primary Mentor
Sari Cantrell
Start Date
12-5-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
12-5-2025 12:15 PM
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Description
Background/Project Intent: Review of cases identified 16 possible follow-up needs. A single patient had a maximum of 12 potential needs. Needs not being addressed included written documentation for need of follow-up without subsequent referral placed/appointment scheduled or need not addressed at all. The goal of this project was to have all follow-up needs addressed for at least 50% of children diagnosed with AHT by January 2025.
Methods: All children admitted to CMH from January 2024-December 2024 and diagnosed with AHT by the Safety, Care & Nurturing (SCAN) team were included. Interventions were designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team to address barriers including variation in scheduling process per specialty, lack of knowledge, and changing caregivers. • PDSA 1 (1/1/24): SCAN adding standardized list of potential follow-up needs to consultation documentation. • PDSA 2 (2/1/24): Trauma NP identified as responsible for ophthalmology outpatient referrals. • PDSA 3 (3/1/24) Social work identified as responsible to place early intervention referrals and document in chart. This transitioned to a SCAN clinic nurse being responsible for these referrals. • PDSA 4 (4/10/24): AHT caregiver handouts including description of all possible follow-up specialties was added to depart instructions. • PDSA 5 (12/11/24): Creation of an AHT Evidence Based Practice guideline including addressing follow-up needs. Appointments and referrals were tracked by the author. QI tools used included fault tree, fishbone, and PICK Chart.
Results: In 2024, 27 children were admitted to CMH and diagnosed with AHT by SCAN team. Five children were excluded from the study as 3 died and 2 were transferred to another hospital. All follow-up needs were addressed in 13% (3/23) of patients. The number of patients with <50% of follow-up needs addressed was reduced from 47% to 43%.
Conclusions: While project aims weren’t met, progress was made. Next steps include educating all discharging teams at CMH as there is no standardized team caring for these patients at discharge. Overall, there are few of these patients so standards are harder to implement when each is discharged by different personnel. We have created a working group and point person for appointment tracking to ensure appropriate follow-up needs established at discharge.
Included in
Higher Education and Teaching Commons, Medical Education Commons, Pediatrics Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons
A single center qualitative study to improve coordination of follow-up care for patients diagnosed with Abusive Head Trauma
Background/Project Intent: Review of cases identified 16 possible follow-up needs. A single patient had a maximum of 12 potential needs. Needs not being addressed included written documentation for need of follow-up without subsequent referral placed/appointment scheduled or need not addressed at all. The goal of this project was to have all follow-up needs addressed for at least 50% of children diagnosed with AHT by January 2025.
Methods: All children admitted to CMH from January 2024-December 2024 and diagnosed with AHT by the Safety, Care & Nurturing (SCAN) team were included. Interventions were designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team to address barriers including variation in scheduling process per specialty, lack of knowledge, and changing caregivers. • PDSA 1 (1/1/24): SCAN adding standardized list of potential follow-up needs to consultation documentation. • PDSA 2 (2/1/24): Trauma NP identified as responsible for ophthalmology outpatient referrals. • PDSA 3 (3/1/24) Social work identified as responsible to place early intervention referrals and document in chart. This transitioned to a SCAN clinic nurse being responsible for these referrals. • PDSA 4 (4/10/24): AHT caregiver handouts including description of all possible follow-up specialties was added to depart instructions. • PDSA 5 (12/11/24): Creation of an AHT Evidence Based Practice guideline including addressing follow-up needs. Appointments and referrals were tracked by the author. QI tools used included fault tree, fishbone, and PICK Chart.
Results: In 2024, 27 children were admitted to CMH and diagnosed with AHT by SCAN team. Five children were excluded from the study as 3 died and 2 were transferred to another hospital. All follow-up needs were addressed in 13% (3/23) of patients. The number of patients with <50% of follow-up needs addressed was reduced from 47% to 43%.
Conclusions: While project aims weren’t met, progress was made. Next steps include educating all discharging teams at CMH as there is no standardized team caring for these patients at discharge. Overall, there are few of these patients so standards are harder to implement when each is discharged by different personnel. We have created a working group and point person for appointment tracking to ensure appropriate follow-up needs established at discharge.
