Teri McCarty1, Erica Braswell2. 1. Department of Pharmacy (TM), Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 2. Department of Pediatrics (EB), Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs due to abrupt discontinuation of chronic fetal exposure to substances used by the mother during pregnancy. As the incidence of NAS continues to increase, medical teams are evaluating strategies to reduce length of stay (LOS). Increased LOS contributes to poorer mother-infant bonding and neurodevelopmental outcomes as well as increased health care cost. As part of an ongoing quality improvement project, the objective of this study was to determine if formal interprofessional rounds affected LOS for infants with NAS. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis at a single hospital system to determine if interprofessional rounds had an impact on NAS LOS. On February 5, 2016, introduction of formal weekly interprofessional NAS-specific rounds occurred in addition to daily patient care rounds. Every patient with opioid exposure undergoing Finnegan scoring, treated with weight-based morphine, and >35 weeks gestation was included. Data were collected on LOS and length of therapy for eligible patients. This study evaluated the impact of interprofessional rounds on LOS 17 months after its implementation compared with 13 months immediately preceding. RESULTS: Among the 119 infants (51 pre and 68 post) meeting inclusion criteria, the median LOS for the post-rounds group was significantly shorter than the pre-rounds group (13 vs 16 days, p = 0.001). The median length of therapy (morphine with or without clonidine) was also significantly shorter in the post-rounds versus the pre-rounds group (8 vs 12 days, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Formal weekly interprofessional NAS rounds decreased LOS and length of therapy. Copyright. Pediatric Pharmacy Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, email: mhelms@pediatricpharmacy.org 2022.
OBJECTIVE: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs due to abrupt discontinuation of chronic fetal exposure to substances used by the mother during pregnancy. As the incidence of NAS continues to increase, medical teams are evaluating strategies to reduce length of stay (LOS). Increased LOS contributes to poorer mother-infant bonding and neurodevelopmental outcomes as well as increased health care cost. As part of an ongoing quality improvement project, the objective of this study was to determine if formal interprofessional rounds affected LOS for infants with NAS. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis at a single hospital system to determine if interprofessional rounds had an impact on NAS LOS. On February 5, 2016, introduction of formal weekly interprofessional NAS-specific rounds occurred in addition to daily patient care rounds. Every patient with opioid exposure undergoing Finnegan scoring, treated with weight-based morphine, and >35 weeks gestation was included. Data were collected on LOS and length of therapy for eligible patients. This study evaluated the impact of interprofessional rounds on LOS 17 months after its implementation compared with 13 months immediately preceding. RESULTS: Among the 119 infants (51 pre and 68 post) meeting inclusion criteria, the median LOS for the post-rounds group was significantly shorter than the pre-rounds group (13 vs 16 days, p = 0.001). The median length of therapy (morphine with or without clonidine) was also significantly shorter in the post-rounds versus the pre-rounds group (8 vs 12 days, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Formal weekly interprofessional NAS rounds decreased LOS and length of therapy. Copyright. Pediatric Pharmacy Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, email: mhelms@pediatricpharmacy.org 2022.
Entities:
Keywords:
clinical protocol; duration of therapy; interdisciplinary communication; interprofessional; length of stay; morphine; neonatal abstinence syndrome
Authors: Alison Volpe Holmes; Emily C Atwood; Bonny Whalen; Johanna Beliveau; J Dean Jarvis; John C Matulis; Shawn L Ralston Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 7.124