Keywords

education, process improvement, supportive care

 

Authors

  1. Stroupe, Lya M. DNP, RN, CPNP

Abstract

The death of a child is one of the most painful experiences a parent can endure. Highlighted in a report issued by the Institute of Medicine, there is a need to develop strategies for supporting health care workers dealing with perception, knowledge, and involvement in pediatric supportive care. Research has shown that staff members do not always feel comfortable dealing with issues of supportive care; however, after equipping them with knowledge and resources, they will provide the best pediatric supportive care for patients and their families. Most of the studies reviewed a need for communication between staff and the need for support from health care professionals as well as members of other families with critically ill children. The solution at a large academic medical teaching hospital was to educate the childrens' hospital staff about pediatric supportive care via a computer-based learning module. Follow-up education and reminders were used to reinforce the workflow in making a supportive care consult. The number of encounters and consults were measured and found to improve once the education complete. The communication item on the Press Ganey Survey was also found to have a positive impact on the perception that the interdisciplinary team worked together to care for patients.