Reducing hospital admissions of healthy children with functional constipation: a quality initiative

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Quality Improvement Science
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Functional constipation (FC) is a prevalent pediatric condition.
• Inappropriate hospital admissions for FC were identified as a significant issue.
• A critical patient safety event underscored the need for improved FC management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a standardized protocol for managing pediatric functional constipation.
• To reduce hospital admissions for uncomplicated FC.
• To decrease the incidence of invasive procedures like fecal disimpaction.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative was undertaken.
• A standardized approach for determining hospitalization necessity was created.
• A structured outpatient therapeutic regimen was established.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in hospital admissions for pediatric FC.
• Marked decrease in the number of children requiring operating room fecal disimpaction.
• Improved patient care and reduced healthcare costs associated with FC management.

Conclusions:

• A standardized, quality improvement-driven approach effectively reduces hospitalizations for pediatric functional constipation.
• This initiative enhances patient safety, lowers healthcare expenditures, and optimizes care delivery.
• The developed protocol is transferable to other institutions seeking to improve FC management.