ABSTRACT
Sickle cell disease is a complex chronic disorder associated with increased morbidity and early mortality. The Pediatric Quality Measures Program has developed new sickle cell-specific quality measures focused on hydroxyurea (HU) counseling and annual transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening; however, these measures have not been used in a clinical setting to inform quality improvement (QI) efforts. METHODS: From 2017 to 2018, 9 sickle cell subspecialty clinics from the Pacific Sickle Cell Regional Collaborative conducted a year-long QI collaborative focused on improving the percentage of patients with HU counseling and TCD screening based on the new quality measures. After an initial kick-off meeting, the 9 sites participated in monthly conference calls. We used run charts annotated with plan-do-study-act cycle activities to track each site's monthly progress and the overall mean percentage for the entire collaborative. RESULTS: There was an overall improvement in the aggregate HU counseling from 85% to 98% (P < 0.01). For TCD screening, referral frequency changed from 85% to 90% (P = 0.76). For both measures, the variation in frequencies decreased over the year. CONCLUSION: Over 1 year, we found that a regional QI collaborative increased HU counseling. Although referral for TCD screening increased, there was no overall change in TCD completion. Overall, this QI report's findings can help clinicians adopt and implement these quality measures to improve outcomes in children.
ABSTRACT
National guidelines recommend that providers counsel all patients with sickle cell anemia about hydroxyurea (HU) therapy and screen children with sickle cell anemia annually for the risk of stroke with transcranial Doppler (TCD). We surveyed a national convenience sample of sickle cell disease clinicians to assess factors associated with low adherence. Adherence was 46% for TCD screening. Low adherence was associated with a lack of outcome expectancy (eg, a belief that there would be poor patient follow-up to TCD testing; P < .05). Adherence was 72% for HU counseling. Practice barriers (eg, lack of support staff or time) and a lack of agreement with HU recommendations were associated with low adherence (P < .05). This study demonstrates that different types of strategies are needed to improve TCD screening (to address follow-up and access to testing) versus HU counseling (to address physician agreement and practice barriers).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric medical professionals have an increasing desire for quality improvement (QI) methods that produce sustainable changes in health care delivery. Previous reports have described QI in single settings or single coordinating entities that work with multiple sites. The objectives of this project are (1) to improve care for children with asthma across multiple practice settings and (2) to develop state-level expertise to support QI projects across entities in multiple states. METHODS: Using a multiwave approach, the Chapter Quality Network of the American Academy of Pediatrics implemented statewide learning collaboratives in several states. For each cycle, a national leadership team coached multiple American Academy of Pediatrics chapter leadership teams, which, in turn, coached individual pediatric practices through 2 nested learning collaboratives. State chapters received data and reporting tools and a curriculum fostering QI learning and support change at the practice level. Practices implemented an asthma assessment tool and registry, analyzed work flows, and implemented self-management tools in plan-do-study-act cycles. Sixteen process and outcome measures, including optimal asthma care, were collected and analyzed by using run charts on a monthly dashboard. Chapter leaders provided feedback on sustainable QI change through surveys and interviews. RESULTS: Optimal asthma care improved from 42% to 81% across the 4 waves. The percentage of patients rated by physicians as well controlled rose from 59% to 74%. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma care can be improved by supporting practice change through statewide QI learning collaboratives.
