Closing the Loop: Program Description and Qualitative Analysis of a Pediatric Posttransfer Follow-up and Feedback...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Care
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• General emergency departments (GEDs) lack feedback on pediatric patients transferred to children's hospitals.
• This gap hinders quality improvement and provider education in community settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholder perspectives on a novel program providing follow-up and feedback on pediatric transfers.

Main Methods:

• Secure electronic reports on patient transfers were sent from 7 GEDs to pediatric emergency care coordinators.
• Semistructured interviews were conducted with 7 pediatric emergency care coordinators and 2 children's hospital liaisons.
• Grounded theory (constant comparative method) was used to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders valued the program for closing the communication loop, providing education, and informing quality improvement.
• Concise, timely reports and empathetic delivery were appreciated.
• Facilitators included established relationships and a culture of inquiry; barriers included medicolegal concerns and time burdens.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholders reported significant benefits from the pediatric posttransfer follow-up program.
• Suggestions for improvement include focusing on generalizable learning points and analyzing care trends.
• Data trend analysis can enhance pediatric care across all emergency settings.