A quality improvement initiative to reduce necrotizing enterocolitis across hospital systems

Male Databases, Factual Incidence Infant, Newborn Quality Improvement Risk Assessment United States 3. Good health Primary Prevention Survival Rate 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Enterocolitis, Necrotizing Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Intensive Care, Neonatal Humans Infant, Very Low Birth Weight Female Hospital Mortality Retrospective Studies
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-018-0104-0 Publication Date: 2018-04-20T10:37:44Z
ABSTRACT
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease in premature infants. Local rates of NEC were unacceptably high. We hypothesized that utilizing quality improvement methodology to standardize care and apply evidence-based practices would reduce our rate of NEC.A multidisciplinary team used the model for improvement to prioritize interventions. Three neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) developed a standardized feeding protocol for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, and employed strategies to increase the use of human milk, maximize intestinal perfusion, and promote a healthy microbiome.The primary outcome measure, NEC in VLBW infants, decreased from 0.17 cases/100 VLBW patient days to 0.029, an 83% reduction, while the compliance with a standardized feeding protocol improved.Through reliable implementation of evidence-based practices, this project reduced the regional rate of NEC by 83%. A key outcome and primary driver of success was standardization across multiple NICUs, resulting in consistent application of best practices and reduction in variation.
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