Sana Farooki

and 7 more

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.