SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Decreasing Redundant Inflammatory Marker Use in Hospitalized Children

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This quality improvement project focused on reducing redundant inflammatory marker (IM) testing in hospitalized children. The team noted that IMs are often ordered together during infection workups without providing added diagnostic or clinical value, which can lead to unnecessary blood draws, patient distress, family burden, and healthcare waste.<br /><br />Redundant IM use was defined as ordering two or more inflammatory markers for the same patient within a 24-hour period. The project also tracked total IM use, number of blood draws, CBC use, and readmission rates.<br /><br />At baseline, IMs were ordered on 19% of patients admitted to the pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) service, and 43% of those orders were redundant. After implementing quality improvement interventions, redundant IM use dropped from 43% to 8% over 9 months, representing a 35% decrease overall. Total IM testing also decreased by 8%. Importantly, there was no corresponding increase in blood draws, CBC use, or readmission rates, suggesting the reduction did not harm patient care or safety.<br /><br />The authors concluded that their interventions successfully reduced unnecessary inflammatory marker testing without increasing adverse events. Future plans include evaluating the project’s cost savings through the Financial Stewardship Committee and expanding the approach to other specialty services and the emergency department.

Asset Subtitle

Kathryn Bakkum

Meta Tag

Author List David Gannon, Kathryn Bakkum, Kathy Stoner, Prabi Rajbhandari

Category Research

Concept Inflammatory Marker Testing

Concept Redundant Testing

Concept Hospitalized Children

Concept Quality Improvement

Concept Adverse Events

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Akron Children's Hospital

Presenting Author Kathryn Bakkum

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

quality improvement

inflammatory marker testing

pediatric hospital medicine

redundant testing

blood draws

infection workup

patient safety

healthcare waste

CBC use

readmission rates

Inflammatory Marker Testing

Redundant Testing

Hospitalized Children

Quality Improvement

Adverse Events