Other clinical outcomes

Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) central line infection rate

The news has focused on the inherent risks to a hospitalized patient. Sometimes more sickness can occur as the result of hospitalization when new infections and germs are introduced into a patient’s system.

At Dayton Children’s we have worked hard  to reduce the risk for our patients. Our pediatric intensive care unit has implemented a method to insert intravenous lines centrally to reduce the risk to the patient of getting a hospital-acquired infection.

This national patient safety collaborative began in March 2005. Preventing central venous catheter associated bloodstream infections saves patients the risk of additional serious illness and possibly death. Dayton Children’s received the Race for Results award from the Child Health Corporation of America, placing first among 29 children’s hospital across the country. As of June 30, 2006, Dayton Children’s achieved 471 consecutive days without any bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheters.

Newborn intensive care unit (NICU) central line infection rate

As in the PICU, the NICU also implemented the bundling concept as a process improvement to reduce the central line infection rate. The bundling concept is a process that ensures two people are present for every central line dressing change. One staff member observes the process to make sure that the correct protocol is followed. Dedicating personnel and time to complete the process drastically reduces the chance of a central line infection. Infants in the NICU have gone as many as 180 days between infections.

Child Abuse Safety Net Plan

This ensures that each child treated for suspected child abuse has a safety net plan in place before they leave the emergency department or are discharged from an inpatient stay. For the past three years, 100 percent of these children have left Dayton Children’s with a safety net plan in place.

Organ donation

Dayton Children’s works closely with Life Connection of Ohio (the organ procurement organization for Northwest and West Central Ohio) to respectfully plan with families who choose to donate their child’s organs. A representative from Life Connection of Ohio is a member of the hospital committee that assists with organ procurement planning. This ensures that this important and sensitive process is handled in a compassionate matter and that the family is supported throughout the process.