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Development of Pediatric Emergency Protocols and Communication Plans in Pediatric Radiation Oncology:
Rebecca A Carson1, Matthew M Ladra1, Amanda Choflet1
1Department of Pediatric Radiation Oncology, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; and Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, Md.
Insights
Pediatric radiation oncology programs face challenges with adult facility costs. This project developed an emergency preparedness plan to improve pediatric emergency care and patient transfer between hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Healthcare Management
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Radiation therapy is crucial for pediatric cancers, but dedicated facilities are costly.
- Pediatric patients treated at adult facilities may lack adequate emergency preparedness.
- Collaborative programs are needed to address these disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multidisciplinary emergency preparedness plan for a pediatric radiation oncology program.
- To enhance care for pediatric emergencies in a collaborative setting between adult and children's hospitals.
- To improve patient stabilization and transfer protocols.
Main Methods:
- A cyclical quality improvement process involving multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Development of protocols and processes for pediatric emergency stabilization and transfer.
- Creation of a communication plan for patient information flow during care transitions.
Main Results:
- Established protocols and processes for pediatric emergency management.
- Developed a communication plan to facilitate multidisciplinary team coordination.
- A framework for a collaborative pediatric radiation oncology program was created.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary collaboration is key to developing effective emergency preparedness plans.
- The developed plan aims to improve pediatric emergency care and transitions of care.
- Further research with quantitative outcomes is needed to validate the plan's effectiveness.
Abstract:
Radiation therapy is an essential component of treatment for many pediatric cancers, yet the cost of maintaining a radiation facility at a dedicated pediatric center is often prohibitive. As a result, adult facilities treat pediatric patients where preparation for a pediatric emergency may be inadequate. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop a multidisciplinary emergency preparedness plan for a collaborative pediatric radiation oncology program at an adult community hospital with its partnering academic children's hospital. Using a cyclical process involving multidisciplinary collaboration that combines policy development, preparation, and team-building, the authors created the protocols and processes that would support the stabilization of a pediatric emergency and facilitate transfer to the partnering children's hospital. Further development of a communication plan outlines the flow of patient information through the multidisciplinary team during these transitions of care. Areas for future work include quantitative outcome measures to determine the effectiveness of the policies and procedures developed to prepare staff for pediatric emergencies.
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