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Pediatric Chemotherapy Infusions in Outpatient Examination Rooms: A Novel Patient Care Approach
Tami K Omdahl1, Janelle L Stenzel1, Marsha L Pike1
1Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Insights
Integrating pediatric infusions into outpatient clinic rooms improved patient satisfaction and reduced appointment times. This novel approach enhances efficiency and patient experience in pediatric infusion therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Infusion Therapy
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Outpatient infusion centers and specialized Pediatric Infusion Therapy Centers (PITCs) are common for pediatric infusions.
- COVID-19 pandemic restrictions reduced PITC capacity by 40%, exacerbating patient and family satisfaction issues.
- Existing capacity constraints and patient satisfaction challenges necessitated a new approach to pediatric infusions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement a new pediatric infusion process aimed at improving patient and family satisfaction.
- To reduce appointment itinerary duration without compromising patient safety.
- To address capacity constraints exacerbated by external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A phased approach was used to pilot short chemotherapy infusions in standard outpatient clinic examination rooms.
- Patients received specialist consultations and, if indicated, infusions in the same examination room.
- Efficiency, patient satisfaction, and safety metrics were tracked for the new process.
Main Results:
- All tracked efficiency metrics showed improvement.
- No patient harm was reported among 49 unique patients receiving 184 infusions.
- Average appointment itineraries were shortened by 1.03 hours, with 93% patient preference for the new process.
Conclusions:
- Offering short infusions within outpatient clinic examination rooms eases capacity constraints and boosts patient and family satisfaction.
- This innovative model is particularly beneficial for healthcare organizations facing external pressures such as space limitations, high patient volumes, or pandemics.
- The integration of infusion services into routine clinic visits represents a significant improvement in pediatric infusion therapy delivery.
Abstract:
Background: Many health care organizations offer pediatric infusions in outpatient infusion centers or, as in our organization, in a hospital-based outpatient Pediatric Infusion Therapy Center (PITC). When restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased our PITC appointment capacity by 40%, other patient and family satisfaction issues were exacerbated. We implemented a new approach to pediatric infusions with the aim of improving patient and family satisfaction and reducing the amount of time in an appointment itinerary without negatively affecting patient safety. Methods: Our team used a phased approach to pilot the administration of short chemotherapy infusions in the same outpatient clinic examination rooms where consultation and routine office visits were conducted. Patients saw their specialist for an examination and, if clinically indicated, their infusion was administered in the same room. Appointment itineraries were then completed. The team tracked efficiency, satisfaction, and safety metrics related to the new process. Results: All efficiency metrics improved. No harm came to the 49 unique patients who received a total of 184 infusions. Patient appointment itineraries were shortened by an average of 1.03 hr. Satisfaction survey responses indicated a clear preference (93%) for the new process. Discussion: The novel approach of offering short infusions in outpatient clinic examination rooms provides an opportunity to ease capacity constraints and further increase patient and family satisfaction. This method may be especially helpful for health care organizations when external influences (e.g., lack of physical space, challenging patient volumes, and pandemics) necessitate a change.
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