Despite improved outcomes for pediatric Hematology/Oncology patients over the past 15-20 years, sepsis and other acute events continue to cause serious illness in these children. Implementing a pediatric early warning scoring tool (PEWS) with an associated multi-disciplinary action algorithm in a pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit helped to remove barriers that prevented timely referral of children who are clinically deteriorating and requiring immediate help, enhanced multi-disciplinary team communication, and has led to a more than 3-fold increase in days between codes on the Hematology/Oncology unit.

After the model for improvement, our improvement efforts were associated with significant reductions in chemotherapy errors that reached the patient. Key drivers for our success included error vigilance through a huddle, standardization, and minimization of interruptions during ordering.

Oral care algorithm and order set, daily text message reminders, and physician intervention with noncompliant and high-risk patients has improved our compliance. Units where compliance with ADL participation is low can benefit from incorporating elements from this ADL 1-2-3 initiative.

Background Nephrotoxic medication exposure and associated acute kidney injury (AKI) occur commonly in hospitalized children. At Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, there is an initiative to increase awareness of nephrotoxic medication exposure and decrease rates of associated AKI. The oncology service utilized these data in a quality improvement project to drive reductions in AKI rates. Methods Three interventions were implemented targeted at decreasing the incidence of nephrotoxic exposure, as well as protecting against the conversion of exposures to AKI episodes. Cefepime replaced piperacillin‐tazobactam for febrile neutropenia, vancomycin stewardship limited empiric courses to 72 hours, and nephroprotection for intravenous contrast administration was standardized for defined high‐risk patients. Results The study cohort comprised 42 520 noncritically ill patient days admitted to the oncology service at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. A total of 273 unique patients were exposed to combination nephrotoxic medications, leading to 111 AKI episodes. The rate of nephrotoxic medication exposure within the oncology service decreased by 49% from 16.08 to 8.17 per 1000 patient days. Episodes of AKI associated with nephrotoxic medication exposure decreased by 45% from 3.48 to 1.92 per 1000 patient days. Conclusion Interventions to decrease AKI took a three‐pronged approach. Collectively, this approach was proven successful with significant reductions in both rates of nephrotoxic medication exposure and associated AKI among hospitalized oncology patients.

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/ Rationale: The organisms of the human flora are the most common cause of bacteremia and sepsis in immunocompromised and bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. Activities of daily living (ADL) may potentially lower the risk of infection by decreasing pathogenic bacteria on the skin and mouth. A literature review was inconclusive for ADLs lowering the risk of infections in BMT patients. To address ADL compliance, a multidisciplinary team of both oncology and BMT units consisting of PCAs, RNs, nursing leadership and physicians was created. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis: To improve compliance, the team adopted the ADL 1-2-3 initiative: Daily bath/ chlorhexidine (CHG) bath and linen change, at least 2 activities per day, and oral care 3 times per day. Using the Model of Improvement and through Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) testing, we created a standardized ADL process that involved all providers. Interventions included addressing 1-2-3 compliance during rounds, creating accountability in care delivery, creation of an algorithm and order set for oral care, daily text message reminders, and physician intervention with non-compliant and high-risk patients. Findings & Interpretation: Our baseline compliance with the 1-2-3 initiative was 25%. With our interventions we increased our median compliance to 66% in 90 days. The greatest impact on compliance was seen with text message reminders to staff to complete the 1-2-3 components, designated roles and responsibilities, and physician discussion with noncompliant and high-risk patients. Our current compliance, as of September 3 rd, 2015, is 78.7%. Discussion & Implications: The 53% increase in ADL compliance for BMT validates the importance of a multidisciplinary team collaborating with the patient and family. Multiple factors were found to disrupt the flow of care being provided to the patient. Utilizing the oral care algorithm and order set, daily text message reminders, and physician intervention with non-compliant and high-risk patients were found to offset these disruptions. Units where compliance with ADL participation is low would be an ideal environment to incorporate the ADL 1-2-3 initiative.