Improving pediatric hematology/oncology care in the emergency department
1University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Insights
Parents and physicians agree that providing pediatric hematology/oncology patients with critical medical information, like history and contact details, can improve emergency department (ED) visits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Emergency Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Pediatric hematology/oncology patients often require emergency department (ED) care for serious conditions.
- A significant challenge during these visits is the lack of readily available, patient-specific medical information.
- This information gap can lead to suboptimal care for these complex patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key information needs for improving the care of pediatric hematology/oncology patients in the ED.
- To assess the perspectives of both parents and physicians regarding information accessibility during ED visits.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to parents of pediatric hematology/oncology patients.
- A separate survey was conducted among emergency department (ED) physicians serving these patients.
Main Results:
- While ED physicians felt confident with general pediatric care, confidence decreased when treating pediatric hematology/oncology patients.
- Both physicians and parents identified crucial information for ED visits, including written medical history, medication lists, and on-call specialist contact information.
- Specific details like appropriate needle size for port access were also highlighted as valuable.
Conclusions:
- Parents reported satisfaction with current ED care.
- Both parents and physicians believe that having specific additional information readily available would significantly enhance the effectiveness of ED care for pediatric hematology/oncology patients.
Purpose:
Pediatric hematology/oncology patients frequently use the emergency department (ED) for prompt care during potentially life-threatening events, such as sepsis and bleeding. One challenge of these visits is the unavailability of appropriate patient-specific medical information. Lack of information may result in ineffective ED visits for these patients with complex conditions.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey to determine ways to improve the care of pediatric hematology/oncology patients in the ED setting was conducted among parents at two affiliated pediatric hematology/oncology clinics. ED physicians in the catchment area of the clinic completed a separate survey.
Results:
All physicians surveyed were confident in caring for pediatric patients in the ED; however, fewer were confident in caring for pediatric hematology/oncology patients. Physicians and parents reported that the patient's written medical history (physicians, 30%; parents, 33%), medication list (physicians, 28%; parents, 24%), on-call pediatric hematologist/oncologist contact information (physicians, 34%; parents, 31%), and needle size and gauge to access the patient's port (physicians, 8%; parents, 12%) would be valuable information to have when presenting to the ED.
Conclusion:
Parents were satisfied with ED care, but both physician and parent respondents thought additional information would be valuable to have available at the visit to help facilitate effective care.
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