Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario Research Articles

Finding significant pathogens in blood cultures in children: Should we set the timer to 36 hours?

Knowledge of time to positivity (TTP) for blood cultures is useful to assess timing of discontinuation of empiric antimicrobials for suspected bacteremia with no focus. An audit of positive blood cultures from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) from November 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020, was performed to determine TTP, defined as the start of incubation to a positive signal from automated incubators. Three hundred seventy-six positive blood cultures were identified from 248 patients (average age: 6.27 [SD 6.24] years). Of these, 247 isolates were speciated; 90 (36.4%) were definitive/probable (DP) pathogens (median TTP 12.75 hours) and 157 (63.6%) possible/probable (PP) contaminants (median TTP 24.08 hours). At each time point, the adjusted rate of positive blood culture was significantly higher for DP pathogens compared to PP contaminants (hazard ratio [HR] 1.80 [95% CI 1.37, 2.36]) and for children ≤27 days old compared to the oldest age group (HR 1.94 [95% CI 1.19, 3.17]). By 36 hours, the proportion of positive cultures was significantly higher in the youngest age group (≤27 days) compared with the 3-11 years old age group (91.7% [95% CI 68.6%, 97.8%] versus 58.2% [95% CI 46.91%, 68.06%]). Across all ages, the TTP was significantly shorter for blood cultures with DP pathogens compared to those with PP contaminants (HR 1.80 [95% CI 1.37, 2.36]). In newborns, 90% of blood cultures were positive by 36 hours supporting this re-assessment time for empiric antimicrobials. TTP was longer in children ≥12 months, possibly related to other factors such as blood culture volume.

The Calgary Kids’ Hand Rule: External Validation of a Prediction Model to Triage Pediatric Hand Fractures

Background: The Calgary Kids’ Hand Rule (CKHR) is a clinical prediction rule intended to guide referral decisions for pediatric hand fractures presenting to the emergency department, identifying “complex” fractures that require surgical referral and optimizing care through better matching of patients’ needs to provider expertise. The objective of this study was to externally validate the CKHR in two different tertiary pediatric hospitals in Canada. Methods: We partnered with British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to externally validate the CKHR using data from retrospective cohorts of pediatric hand fractures (via electronic medical record and x-ray review). Model performance was evaluated at each site using sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and the C-statistic. Results: A total of 954 hand fractures were included in the analysis (524 at BCCH and 430 at CHEO. At BCCH, the CKHR had a sensitivity of 91.1% (133 predicted complex out of 146 total complex fractures), specificity of 71.4% (269 predicted simple out of 377 total simple fractures), and C-statistic of .81, 95% CI [0.78-0.84]. At CHEO, the CKHR had a sensitivity of 98.3%, specificity of 30.2%, and C-statistic of .64, 95% CI [0.61-0.67]. Conclusion: The CKHR performed well at two different tertiary care centres with high sensitivity, supporting its ability to facilitate hand fracture triage in other populations without further modification. This work should be followed by rigorous implementation analysis to determine its impact on patient care.

Return to the Emergency Department Within 3 Months Following Pediatric Acute Concussion.

To determine the proportion of concussed children returning to the emergency department (ED) for a concussion-related reason within 3 months of initial presentation and to determine which clinical composite score (5P or Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory) best predicts a return visit. We combined a secondary analysis of data from the prospectively collected 5P study with a retrospective medical record review of children aged 5 to 18 years who returned to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) ED for a concussion-related reason within 3 months of an acutely diagnosed concussion. Among 770 eligible participants, 632 children (median age: 11.8 [interquartile range (IQR), 9.0-14.5] years; 58.9% male) were included in the study. The primary outcome was the number of patients who returned to CHEO ED for a concussion-related reason within 3 months of an acute concussion diagnosed at CHEO ED. The secondary outcome was number of patients who returned within 14 days. Forty-seven children (7.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6-9.7) had a concussion-related return to the ED within 3 months, the majority of which occurred in the first 14 days (29/47; 61.7%; 95% CI: 47.4-74.2). History of migraines (21.3% vs 9.7%; P = .03) were more common in those with a return visit. Headache was the most frequently reported symptom (87.2%) on revisit. Females aged 13 to 18 years had the highest return rate (survival rate: 85.8% [95% CI: 79.8-92.3]) compared with males and younger age groups. In multivariable Cox hazards regression modeling, inclusion of risk scores improved prognostication (pseudo R2 = 8%). The difference in pseudo R2 between 5P and Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory is small. Most children and adolescents do not return to the ED following an acute concussion. Female youth with medium to high 5P scores at the index concussion visit may benefit from early referral to interdisciplinary specialty concussion care to guide treatment in anticipation of prolonged symptoms. By identifying these risk factors at the initial ED visit, healthcare and patient burden may be reduced.

Severe iron deficiency anemia in the paediatric emergency department: A retrospective study.

Transfusion is discouraged in hemodynamically stable children with severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Intravenous (IV) iron sucrose (IS) could be an alternative for some patients; however, there is a paucity of data on its use in the paediatric emergency department (ED). We analyzed patients presenting with severe IDA at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) ED between September 1, 2017, and June 1, 2021. We defined severe IDA as microcytic anemia <70 g/L and either a ferritin <12 ng/mL or a documented clinical diagnosis. Of 57 patients, 34 (59%) presented with nutritional IDA and 16 (28%) presented with IDA secondary to menstrual bleeding. Fifty-five (95%) patients received oral iron. Thirteen (23%) patients additionally received IS and after 2 weeks, the average Hgb was similar to transfused patients. The median time for patients receiving IS without PRBC transfusion to increase their Hgb by at least 20 g/L was 7 days (95%CI 0.7 to 10.5 days). Of 16 (28%) children who were transfused with PRBC, there were three mild reactions, and one patient who developed transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO). There were two mild and no severe reactions to IV iron. There were no return visits to the ED due to anemia in the following 30 days. Management of severe IDA with IS was associated with a rapid rise in Hgb without severe reactions or returns to ED. This study highlights a strategy for management of severe IDA in hemodynamically stable children that spares them the risks associated with PRBC transfusion. Paediatric specific guidelines and prospective studies are needed to guide the use of IV iron in this population.

The association of age and adverse events of PEG-asparaginase in a pediatric tertiary care hospital; a retrospective review.

Pediatric patients have a better survival rate for lymphoid malignancies than adolescents and young adult patients (AYA) and current evidence suggests that asparaginase plays a role in improved response to treatment. This study aimed to evaluate if increasing age as a continuous variable demonstrated increasing toxicities to PEG-asparaginase (PEG-ASP) for those patients treated at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. A retrospective chart review from 2007 to 2017 was conducted in the pediatric population at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Patients having received PEG-ASP were included. Event incidence and risk related to age at diagnosis were assessed through parameter estimates and Wald chi-square analysis. In total, 75 adverse events were observed: 34/186 (18.3%) experienced allergic reactions, 8/186 (4.3%) pancreatitis, 31/186 (16.7%) thrombosis, and 2/186 (1.1%) hemorrhage. One hundred and eighty two patients had complete information for inclusion in our model. A correlation between age at diagnosis and higher risk of allergic reaction (p < .001) and pancreatitis (p < .035) was observed. Allergic reaction and pancreatitis following administration of PEG-ASP have a higher risk of occurrence as age of diagnosis increases up to 18 years of age. This includes the lower limit of traditionally defined AYA population of 15-39 and warrants precaution as PEG-ASP is included in older populations treatment regimens at pediatric centers.

Innovative virtual care delivery in a Canadian paediatric tertiary-care centre.

Health care systems and providers have rapidly adapted to virtual care delivery during this unprecedented time. Clinical programs initiated a variety of virtual care delivery models to maintain access to care, preserve personal protective equipment, and minimize infectious disease spread. Herein, we first describe the context within paediatric health delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada that fueled the rise of virtual care delivery. We then summarize the development, implementation, and beneficial impact of the innovative virtual care delivery programs currently in use at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) for both inpatient and outpatient care, specifically in our ambulatory clinics, emergency department, and mental health program. We highlight the transferable unique ways CHEO has integrated virtual care delivery through our governance structure, stakeholder engagement including patient, caregivers and health care providers and staff, development, and use of eHealth tools and novel approaches for patient care requiring physical assessment. We conclude with our vision for the future of virtual care, one component of paediatric care delivery in the post-COVID-19 era, which requires a common framework for virtual care evaluation. Importantly, rapid implementation of a primarily virtual care model at CHEO sustained high volume quality paediatric care. We believe many of these programs should and will remain in the post-pandemic era. A comprehensive, unified approach to evaluation is essential to yield meaningful results that inform sustainable care delivery models that integrate virtual care, and ultimately help ensure the best health outcomes for our patients.

The expense of sending cerebrospinal fluid for analysis on all lumbar punctures in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients is uncommon. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with ALL is routinely sampled at each intrathecal chemotherapy treatment to screen for CNS relapse. The analysis of CSF is both time consuming and resource intensive and must be completed approximately 20 times per patient throughout treatment. Our objective was to examine the expense of routine screening on all CSF samples for CNS relapse in ALL patients, and to identify if CNS relapse can be detected clinically. We identified all patients diagnosed with ALL at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) between January 2001 and June 2021. We collected the total number of CSF samples in these patients and the number of CSF samples positive for CNS relapse. An in-depth chart review on the patients who relapsed in the CNS was completed to identify symptoms at relapse. Over the study period, 351 patients were diagnosed with ALL and underwent a total of 6515 lumbar punctures (LPs), each of which examined the CSF. The cost of CSF sample analysis is $14.32 (Canadian dollars [CDN]); thus, the total cost for the study sample was $93,294.80 (CDN). There were 14 CNS relapses and although symptoms including headache, vomiting, and fatigue were common, two patients were asymptomatic at relapse. Given the marginal cost of routine CSF screening and the lack of specific and sensitive symptoms for CNS relapse, we conclude that the routine practice of sending all CSF samples for analysis of CNS relapse in ALL patients is relatively inexpensive and beneficial.

Development of Pediatric Hospital Position Statements on Medical and Non-Prescribed Cannabis.

The pediatric demand for medical cannabis has been increasing. This has necessitated the need to develop hospital statements and policies at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to provide clinicians and administrators with recommendations for working with patients and caregivers seeking the use of prescribed or non-prescribed cannabis. Through a structured working group, two hospital position statements and policies on the pediatric use of medical and non-prescribed cannabis were developed for patients served at CHEO. In highlighting the procedural framework and position statements, these policies provide valuable recommendations and resources to other hospitals seeking to develop similar administrative action. In a changing medical landscape, best practices and policies are needed for hospital administrators on the patient use of medical and non-prescribed cannabis. The authors highlight recent policy work and position statements from CHEO, providing a valuable reference to all pediatric and adult hospitals.

Evaluating the Prognostic Implication of the Collins Histology Scoring System in a Pediatric Eastern Ontario Population With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Collins et al developed a histology scoring system (EoE HSS) to assess multiple pathologic features. The aim of this study is to identify if the EoE HSS can better detect endoscopic and symptom improvement vs the Peak Eosinophilic Count (PEC). A retrospective chart review was performed for patients during 2014-2016. All patients ≤18years old with a diagnosis of EoE and whose records included initial and follow-up upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were included. Severity and extent of endoscopic features were scored using 8 parameters, from normal to maximum change for each location of the esophageal biopsy. Forty patients with EoE were included in the study, of which 35 (87.5%) patients demonstrated symptom and 25 (62.5%) endoscopic improvement at the time of follow-up. In the proximal esophagus, the EoE HSS outperformed the change in eosinophil count of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) practice in predicting endoscopic improvement by 16.8% when examining the change in grade and 17.1% when examining the change in stage scores. At our institution, adoption of the EoE HSS in assessing biopsies of EoE patients might be warranted, compared to the traditional practice. However, a bigger sample size may give a more robust difference in all locations.

Management of Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Comparison of IV Iron Vs Transfusions

▪Introduction: Severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a problem that often presents to the pediatric emergency department (ED). Recently published ASH-ASPHO Choosing Wisely recommendations suggest avoidance of transfusion in hemodynamically stable, asymptomatic children with IDA 1. Little is known about the use of parenteral iron in this pediatric setting.Methods: We undertook a retrospective review of patients with severe IDA treated in the pediatric ED at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) from September 2017 to June 2021. During this period there were an estimated 75000 patients seen annually. Patients with severe IDA were defined as those presenting with hemoglobin (Hb) less than <70 g/L and low mean corpuscular volume.Results: There were 56 patients that met this criterion with presenting Hb ranging from 17-69 g/L (IQR 41- 62). Median age at presentation was 3.75 yrs (IQR 1.68- 15.5), with a bimodal peak at age 1 yr and again in the teen years (Fig 1). 42 (75%) patients were female. The most common causes of IDA were nutritional and heavy menstrual bleeding. 14 (24.6%) received packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion with or without parenteral iron (iron sucrose), and 11 (19.3%) were treated with parenteral iron alone. Almost all (55, 98.2%) were prescribed oral iron supplementation. The lower the presenting Hb, the more likely that transfusion or parenteral iron was used as initial therapy (Fig 2). 19 (33.9%) patients were admitted to hospital and 37 (66.1%) were discharged home from the ED. Nine recipients of parenteral iron alone had follow-up at CHEO, six had follow-up within 10 days with Hb increases of at least 20 g/L and all nine patients had follow-up by day 41 showing increases ranging from 20-97 g/L. Three recipients of parenteral iron alone had presenting Hb <30 g/L and by 9 days following ED encounter all three had increased their Hb by at least 20 (20-32) g/L. Three patients were discharged from ED after IV iron, and none presented to the ED again. Six recipients of PRBCs had follow up within 10 days showing Hb increase ranging from 33-62 g/L, only five had follow-up by day 41 showing increases of 42-79 g/L. Five patients received >1 transfusion, and transfused volumes ranged from 5-25 mL/kg. Minor infusion reactions occurred in 2 (17%) recipients of parenteral iron, and no patient was suspected to have anaphylaxis. Four (28.5%) patients experienced minor transfusion reactions to packed cells. One recipient of multiple PRBC transfusions had transfusion-associated cardiac overload (TACO) requiring ICU admission.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that patients with severe IDA can be safely and effectively managed in the ED setting with parenteral iron therapy alone without PRBC transfusion. The use of parenteral iron avoids the potential short and long-term complications associated with transfusion, whilst ensuring rapid restoration of iron stores without the tolerability issues associated with oral iron. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare. OffLabel Disclosure:IV iron sucrose is indicated for treatment of iron deficiency in patients 2 and older with CKD. The use of it outside of this context would be considered off label.

Pharmacist Integration into the Hemophilia Treatment Centre: A Canadian Pilot Project to Optimize Treatment and Improve Cost-Savings Using Pharmacokinetic Assessments of Hemophilia Patients

ContextProphylactic treatment with coagulation factors in patients with hemophilia A and B is associated with significant costs to the health care system. Whether recombinant or plasma-derived therapies, factors are expensive products that follow complicated pharmacokinetic (PK) trajectories and are subject to tremendous inter-individual variation, making their efficient use challenging.Effective management of these products therefore requires tailoring treatment to the patient. To do so, it is essential to systematically assess and interpret the PK profiles of patients. A dedicated pharmacist could greatly assist this process by standardizing the approach and assisting with interpretation. In Canada, pharmacists are not currently part of the comprehensive care team for the hemophilia population.AimThe purpose of this pilot project was to determine whether employment of a pharmacist as part of the Hemophilia Treatment Centre (HTC) would be an effective strategy to reduce costs associated with clotting factor prophylaxis regimens and identify the pharmacist's activities associated with this new role.MethodsThis project occurred at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Canada, a tertiary pediatric hospital serving 500,000 children and youth. A cost-minimization analysis was conducted to compare the pre-intervention strategy, current model of care without pharmacist involvement, to the post-intervention strategy, model of care that included a pharmacist in the HTC. The analysis was performed from the perspective of the formulary manager, Canadian Blood Services, with a 1-year time horizon.The pharmacist was assigned for the period of 1-year including a 3-month phase-in period during which no interventions were done by the pharmacist, followed by 9 months of specific action on optimization protocols with the goal of achieving cost savings while maintaining best patient care. McMaster's Web-Accessible Population Pharmacokinetic Service (WAPPS-Hemo), which generates PK profiles, served as the basis for therapeutic optimizations. CHEO patients with moderate to severe hemophilia A or B or von Willebrand disease (vWD) receiving prophylactic treatment with recombinant or plasma-derived clotting factor were eligible for a pharmacist assessment.ResultsThe pharmacist performed 18 therapeutic optimizations on 14 patients with moderate to severe hemophilia A or B, and 1 von Willebrand patient, aged 3 to 18 years old. As a result of the pharmacist's intervention (Table 1), clotting factor treatment costs for these patients extrapolated over one year were reduced by 20.5%. This represents a net savings of $225K CAD/year, or $12.5K CAD/optimization/year.The pharmacist not only conducted the PK analyses but also participated in clinics, performed administrative activities, developed practice improvement policies and trained staff (Figure 1). Clinic attendance activities included discussions with families, education on new product administration, and discussions with the multidisciplinary team. Administrative activities consisted of organizing appropriate switch days, coordinating laboratory tests and timing of PK assessments, ensuring entire supply consumption, adverse event reporting and inventory management support.Additionally, a sub-analysis showed that the pharmacist's interventions did not worsen annual bleed rates (ABR). In most cases, the ABRs were improved after their therapy was optimized using pharmacokinetics.ConclusionSubstitution of clotting factor products and reduction of doses undertaken by the pharmacist resulted in significant savings. To date, no increase in bleeding frequencies have been observed in patients with optimized therapy, suggesting that patient outcomes are maintained. Thus, our project demonstrated that the addition of a pharmacist to the HTC to manage recombinant and plasma-derived coagulation factors can optimise the treatment plan and significantly reduce the costs of managing patients with hemophilia.Following the success of this pilot project, Canadian Blood Services will provide additional funding to extend the project and expand its scope to include adult hemophilia patients. If the findings in this project continue to be demonstrated, this will be used as a case study to expand to all HTC across Canada. [Display omitted] DisclosuresKlaassen: Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hoffman-La Roche: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Octapharma AG: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy.

RGB-D scene analysis in the NICU

Continuity of care is achieved in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through careful documentation of all events of clinical significance, including clinical interventions and routine care events (e.g., feeding, diaper change, weighing, etc.). As a step towards automating this documentation process, we propose a scene recognition algorithm that can automatically identify key features in a single image of the patient environment, paired with a rule-based sentence generator to caption the scene. Color and depth video were obtained from 29 newborn patients from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) using an Intel RealSense SR300 RGB-D camera and manual bedside event annotation. Image processing techniques are implemented to classify two lighting conditions: brightness level and phototherapy. A deep neural network is developed for three image classification tasks: on-going intervention, bed occupancy, and patient coverage. Transfer learning is leveraged in the feature extraction layers, such that weights learned from a generic data-rich task are applied to the clinical domain where data collection is complex and costly. Different depth fusion techniques are implemented and compared among classification tasks, where the depth and color data are fused as an RGB-D image (image fusion) or separately at various layers in the network (network fusion). Promising results were obtained with >84% sensitivity and >73% F1 measure across all context variables despite the large class imbalance. RGBD-based models are shown to outperform RGB models on most tasks. In general, a 4-channel image fusion and network fusion at the 11th layer of the VGG-16 architecture were preferred. Ultimately, achieving complete scene understanding through multimodal computer vision could form the basis for a semi-automated charting system to assist clinical staff.

Evaluating the low-dose ACTH stimulation test in neonates: ideal times for cortisol measurement.

Context Low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation testing (LDST) can be used to diagnose central adrenal insufficiency. However, uncertainty remains over optimal times to draw serum cortisol levels. Objective To determine optimal times to draw serum cortisol levels for the LDST in neonates. Design A retrospective chart review of LDSTs performed on neonates from January 1, 2009 to September 30, 2017. Setting Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a tertiary-care outborn pediatric center. Patients Forty-nine patients were included: 23 (46.9%) born at term, 12 (24.5%) born very preterm to late preterm, and 14 (28.6%) born extremely preterm. Intervention Cortisol levels were drawn at baseline and 15, 30, and 60 minutes following administration of Cortrosyn 1 mcg/kg (maximum dose 1 mcg). Main outcome measure Timing of peak cortisol level and marginal value of drawing a second and third cortisol sample at 15, 30, or 60 minutes was determined. Results Cortisol peaked at 15-, 30-, and 60-minute sampling times for 4%, 27%, and 69% of patients, respectively. The probability that a failed LDST changes to a pass by adding a 15- or 30-minute sample to the superior 60 minute sample is 5.6% (1% to 25.8%) and 11% (3.1% to 32.6%), respectively, for a cortisol pass threshold of 18.1mcg/dL (500 nmol/L). Conclusions In contrast to studies of older children, we found that the majority of neonatal LDST cortisol peaks occurred at the 60-minute sampling time with the addition of a 30-minute sample providing substantial benefit. It is questionable if a 15-minute sample provides any benefit, making a case to revise LDST protocols to sample cortisol later for neonates.

Intrinsic peripheral nerve and root tumor and pseudotumoral lesions at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Tumors affecting peripheral nerves in children are rare. Accurate diagnosis ensures that management is appropriate and timely. A review of intrinsic nerve tumors was completed to differentiate common peripheral nerve lesions based on clinical characteristics and investigations. A retrospective review was conducted for children (< 18 years old) diagnosed with an intrinsic tumor affecting peripheral nerve(s) or roots at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) from 2009 to 2019. We report 14 children with perineurioma (N = 6), neurofibroma (N = 4), intraneural ganglion cyst (N = 2), or lipomatosis (N = 2). Mean age of symptom onset was 8.2 years (range 0.3 to 17.3 years). Presenting symptoms included muscle weakness (7/14), painless muscle wasting (2/14), contracture (1/14), pain (1/14), or the identification of a painless mass (3/14). Nerve conduction studies (NCS) or electromyography (EMG) were performed in 11/14 patients. MRI was useful at differentiating between these pediatric nerve tumors. Biopsies were performed in nine patients with additional surgical management pursued in four patients. The rare nature of peripheral nerve tumors in children can pose diagnostic challenges. NCS/EMG are important to assist with localization, and MRI is useful to distinguish more benign tumors. Key MRI, clinical, and NCS features can in some cases guide management, potentially avoiding the need for invasive procedures.

Development and validation of an algorithm of diagnostic and procedural codes for the identification of children hospitalized with a tracheostomy in Ontario, Canada

The requirement for a tracheostomy in children is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Easy identification of children with tracheostomies would facilitate important research on this population and provide quality improvement initiatives. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an algorithm of diagnostic and procedural codes can accurately identify children hospitalized with a tracheostomy using routinely collected health data. Chart reviews were performed at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) to establish a true positive cohort of pediatric patients with tracheostomies admitted between 2008 and 2016. A multidisciplinary team developed algorithms of diagnostic and procedural codes contained within the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database. Algorithms were tested and refined against the true-positive and true-negative cohort. The accuracy of the diagnostic codes related to tracheostomy complications was also evaluated. A chart review identified 158 unique children with tracheostomies (77 at CHEO, 81 at LHSC) with 901 individual admissions (401 at CHEO, 507 at LHSC). The best algorithms for identifying children with a tracheostomy had a sensitivity and specificity of more than 99%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.0% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The algorithm for the identification of tracheostomy-related complications had a sensitivity of 76.7%, aspecificity of 65%, PPV of 52.3%, and an NPV of 84.7%. This study provides an algorithm for the accurate identification of children hospitalized in Canada with a tracheostomy, facilitating population-level epidemiological research and quality improvement initiatives.

The impact of implementing a preprinted order form for inpatient management of otherwise healthy children admitted to a tertiary care centre with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis.

To examine the effect on length of stay (LOS) of a preprinted order (PPO) set for children admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, as well as on quality improvement measures, medical errors, and resource utilization. A retrospective chart review was performed of children admitted to the inpatient units at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) with a discharge diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between the pre-PPO (December 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015) and post-PPO (December 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) periods. The primary outcome was LOS in days. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of quality improvement measures reached, the number of medical errors, and resource utilization. A total of 245 patients were included; 122 patients from the pre-PPO period (December 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015) and 123 patients from the post-PPO period (December 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016). Mean LOS was 3.1 days (2.7 to 3.5 days) and 2.8 days (2.4 to 3.2 days) in the pre- and post-PPO periods, respectively (multivariate analysis, P-value = 0.13). There were significant differences between the pre- and post-PPO periods in a number of quality improvement measures, although not in the number of medical errors. Significant reductions in oxygen, corticosteroid, antibiotic, and bronchodilator use were noted post-PPO implementation. Although our bronchiolitis PPO did not significantly shorten LOS, it led to important improvements in quality improvement measures and in resource utilization efficiency.

Case Study: Developing an In-House Magnetic Resonance Imaging Maintenance Program.

In 2015, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) developed an in-house magnetic resonance imaging service team. Within two years, the team achieved substantial savings in operational costs, generated new revenue, improved uptime and response time, and improved customer satisfaction within the hospital. Through careful planning and collaboration, the Clinical Engineering Department at CHEO was able to bring imaging services in house successfully, demonstrating improvements over historical original equipment manufacturer performance thresholds.

Building Resilience in At-Risk Elementary School Children: a School-Based Initiative led by Pediatric Residents in Ottawa, Canada

Background: Two pediatric residents at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), in Ottawa, Canada have recognized the need for preventative mental health and resilience programs, specifically in the school setting. Prior to this project, there were no resident-led, community-based, child advocacy initiatives in Ottawa. In 2016-17, two pediatric residents have delivered bi-weekly workshops at an urban elementary school, with a population consisting of high socioeconomic, academic, and cultural needs (many immigrant and refugee families). Workshops have been delivered to sixty students aged 5-12 years, spanning …

Gene Patents in Canada: Is There a New Legal Landscape?

In 2016, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) announced the settlement of its patent lawsuit against US-based Transgenomic, Inc. At issue in the case was CHEO's ability to test for gene mutations associated with long QT syndrome (LQTS) that are described in Transgenomic's patents. CHEO challenged the patents as invalid, and Transgenomic ultimately agreed to license them on a royalty-free basis to CHEO and other healthcare institutions for LQTS testing and research. While widely celebrated in the media, the ethical rhetoric surrounding the settlement has at times obscured the practical and legal context in which it was made and will operate. Here, we provide a nuanced account of the events surrounding the settlement and its implications for research and clinical care. Although the settlement is remarkable for the transparency of its terms and its inclusion of a license intended to benefit unaffiliated test providers, we conclude that another significant implication of the settlement may be its elimination of the opportunity to clarify an increasingly confused area of Canadian law against a backdrop of continued international controversy surrounding the patenting of genes and gene-based diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Integrating Engagement and Improvement Work in a Pediatric Hospital.

Although geared towards a common goal - improved patient-centred care - quality improvement strategies and patient engagement-focused approaches are often developed and conducted in silos. The lack of integration may lead, on the one hand, to the uptake of patient suggestions that do not always take into consideration implications for the delivery of quality care and, on the other hand, to inadequate understanding of patient views required to create optimal services. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)'s action plans to address gaps in patient engagement and quality improvement, two of its priority areas, were initially carried out in isolation of each other. While implementing a key patient engagement initiative using an experience-based co-design approach, Lean process improvement tools were used to plan and implement projects to improve patient, family and staff experiences of care. Preliminary assessments of this project revealed that the integration of these two approaches is feasible and that it was well received by both staff and families. There is important synergy to be found between patient engagement and quality improvement that needs to be leveraged by organizational structures and processes to fulfill the commitments inherent in both fields.