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A quality improvement project to increase palliative care team involvement in pediatric oncology patients
  • +5
  • Sana Farooki,
  • Oluwaseun Olaiya,
  • Lisa Tarbell,
  • Nicholas Clark,
  • Jennifer Linebarger,
  • John Stroh,
  • Kelstan Ellis,
  • Karen Lewing
Sana Farooki
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Oluwaseun Olaiya
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Lisa Tarbell
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Nicholas Clark
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Jennifer Linebarger
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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John Stroh
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Kelstan Ellis
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Karen Lewing
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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Abstract

Background: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) for oncology patients improves quality of life and the likelihood of goal-concordant care. However, barriers to involvement exist. Objectives: We aimed to increase days between PPC consult and death for patients with refractory cancer from a baseline median of 13.5 days to ≥30 days between March 2019 and March 2020. Methods: Outcome measure was days from PPC consult to death; process measure was days from diagnosis to PPC consult. The project team surveyed oncologists to identify barriers. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles included establishing target diagnoses, offering education, standardizing documentation, and sending reminders. Results: The 24-month baseline period included 30 patients that died and 25 newly diagnosed patients. The yearlong intervention period included 6 patients that died and 16 newly diagnosed patients. Interventions improved outcome and process measures. Targeted patients receiving PPC ≥ 30 days prior to death increased from 43% to 100%; median days from consult to death increased from 13.5 to 159.5. Targeted patients receiving PPC within 30 days of diagnosis increased from 28% to 63%; median days from diagnosis to consult decreased from 221.5 to 14. Of those without PPC consult within 30 days after diagnosis, 17% had template documentation of the rationale. Conclusion: Interventions utilized met the global aim, outcome and process measures. Use of QI methodology empowered providers to involve PPC. Poor template use was a barrier to identifying further drivers. Future directions for this project relate to expanding the target list, creating long-term sustainability, formalizing standards, and surveying patients and families.
30 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
30 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
30 Jun 2020Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
15 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
19 Oct 20201st Revision Received
19 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
19 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
21 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
19 Nov 2020Published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 10.1002/pbc.28804