Information flow during pediatric trauma care transitions: things falling through the cracks
Peter Leonard Titus Hoonakker1, Abigail Rayburn Wooldridge2, Bat-Zion Hose3
1Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3124 Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA. peter.hoonakker@wisc.edu.
Internal and Emergency Medicine
|May 30, 2019
Summary
Pediatric trauma care involves complex transitions between emergency departments, operating rooms, and intensive care units. Crucial patient information is often lost during these handoffs, impacting child safety and care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Healthcare Communication
Background:
- Pediatric trauma is a significant cause of child morbidity and mortality in the US.
- Millions of children are treated annually in emergency departments for traumatic injuries.
- Care involves multidisciplinary teams across the emergency department (ED), operating room (OR), and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate communication and coordination challenges during pediatric trauma care transitions.
- To identify information loss points between the ED, OR, and PICU.
- To explore strategies for improving patient safety during care transitions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 18 clinicians involved in pediatric trauma care.
- Post-interview surveys assessing patient safety during transitions.
- Focus on communication and coordination during inter-unit transfers.
Main Results:
- Clinicians reported good cooperation between services during trauma cases.
- Significant loss of critical patient care information occurs during transitions between units.
- Existing communication methods are insufficient for safe information transfer.
Conclusions:
- Despite inter-team cooperation, information gaps persist in pediatric trauma care transitions.
- Technological support is needed to improve information flow and ensure shared mental models.
- Enhancing information management is vital for the safe care of critically injured children.
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