Research Toolkit: Supporting SPN Member Inquiries

Background:Although guidelines for routine follow-up of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are available for adults,minimal data support their appropriateness in pediatrics and congenital heart disease. Objective: To define current practices of cardiac rhythm device (CRD) follow-up among pediatric electrophysiologists. Methods: Pediatric and Congenital EP Society (PACES) members were surveyed regarding frequency of CRD in-person follow-up as well as transtelephonicmonitoring (TTM) and remotemonitoring (RM) practices. If homemonitoringwas used, the effect on in-person follow-upwas evaluated. Results: A total of 106 PACES members responded to the survey. Uncomplicated pacemaker and ICD patients were both followed in- person at a median interval of 6 months (range 1–12 months). TTM was utilized by 67% of responders (median interval 3 months; range 1–6 months), while RM was used by 87% for pacemakers (median interval 3 months; range 1–6months) and 92% for ICDs (median interval 3months; range 2 weeks–6 months). When TTM was used, 21% of responders reduced their frequency of pacemaker clinic visits. In comparison, RM reduced the frequency of clinic visits for pacemakers and ICDs in 32% and 31% of responders, respectively. Patient age was an independent factor in determining CRD follow-up for 49% of responders. Conclusion: While CRD follow-up by pediatric electrophysiologists in general follows adult guidelines, individual practices widely vary. In contrast to published recommendations in adults, TTM and RM utilization does not reduce the frequency of in-person visits for the majority of pediatric electrophysiologists. View a PDF of this poster presentation at http://www.pedsnurses.org/ d/do/804. Selected Abstracts from the 2015 SPN Conference http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2015.06.016 Education: Beyond Borders: Partnerships in Healthcare Delivery DebreaM.GriffithMBA, RN,NE-BC a , Sylvia A. RineairMSHA, BSN, RN, VA-BC b , Diedre Bricker MSN, RN, CRRN c a Lurie Children's Hospital b Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center c Children's Hospital Colorado Abstract Education Problem and Purpose: Potential complications from a peripheral intravenous (PIV) extravasation can lead to serious patient harm. Preventing these injuries is a safety priority for all institutions. The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Scale, currently used in many medical institutions combines the concepts of extravasated fluid volume and local medication toxicity into a single grading system. This method of monitoring extravasations presents significant challenges related to documentation and analysis of the types, causation, and severity of extravasations for pediatric patients. Recognizing the Education Problem and Purpose: Potential complications from a peripheral intravenous (PIV) extravasation can lead to serious patient harm. Preventing these injuries is a safety priority for all institutions. The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Scale, currently used in many medical institutions combines the concepts of extravasated fluid volume and local medication toxicity into a single grading system. This method of monitoring extravasations presents significant challenges related to documentation and analysis of the types, causation, and severity of extravasations for pediatric patients. Recognizing the challenges associated with the current INS scale, a medical institution sought out to develop and implement a new Intravenous Extravasation Assessment and Documentation Tool (IEADT). Objectives and Content: 1) Evaluate tools needed to improve PIV safety for patients. 2) Identify collaboration strategies for implemen- tation of improvement initiative among other hospitals. 3) Describe positive outcomes related to sharing of information to improve patient safety. Education content was similar at all three organizations focusing on establishing partnerships, integration and utilization of technology, and utilization of the tool. Teaching Strategies: The lead hospital utilized a variety of strategies to educate their clinical staff and implement a hospital wide change initiative. To spread the implementation of the new tool beyond their hospital, staff representatives from the lead hospital collaborated with two other pediatric institutions. Partnerships were created between