2007 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
A TWO YEAR EXPERIANCE WITH AN PEDIATRIC INPATIENT ASTHMA PATHWAY
C. R. Dennis1, M. R. Frentzel1
Backround:Pediatric asthma continues to be one of the most frequent discharge diagnoses from Children's Hospitals. Our institution has utilized a proven inpatient asthma pathway to treat pediatric asthma.
Method:Data has been collected on all patients discharged with a primary diagnosis of asthma for the past two years(2005-2006) This information was compared to the same information for patients that were followed on our inpatient asthma pathway. We compared the length of stay and total cost for both groups along with the use of inhaled corticosteroids, asthma education provided prior to discharge, average age, average asthma score, 30 day readmissions and written asthma care plans.
Results: Our 2005 and 2006 results continue to show a decrease in length of stay for pathway patients as well as a increase in the number of patients admitted as observation patients. We have also noted an increase in the number of patients admitted utilizing the asthma pathway.
Conclusions: A well designed inpatient asthma pathway can decrease the length of stay for asthma patients as well as decrease the total cost per stay.
Comparision of 2005-2006 Asthma Pathway
| 2005
Total patients 271 | 2006
Total patients 242 |
| 2005
Completed Pathway 120 | 2006
Completed Pathway 125 |
| 2005
Avg. Age 4.2 yrs. | 2006
Avg. Age 5.5 |
| 2005
Avg. CAS 4.0 | 2006
Avg. CAS 4.0 |
| 2005
L.O.S 0.91 days | 2006
L.O.S 0.93 days |
| 2005
MDI usage 83% | 2006
MDI usage 76% |
| 2005
ICS usage 86% | 2006
ICS usage 80% |
| 2005
Ed completed 49% | 2006
Ed completed 55% |