title: Safety in the pediatric ICU: the key to quality outcomes.
abstract: Patient safety is a major concern in the pediatric ICU. The acuity has never been higher, patient needs are extremely complex, and the margin for error is small. The concentration on safety needs to revolve around designing safe systems and processes. This article discusses communication, patient identification, catheter-related bloodstream infections, unplanned extubations, restraints and medication administration. The health care system of the future must be transparent, making safety information to insurers, patients and health care providers easily available.
authors.affiliation: Quality and Outcome Department, All Children's Hospital, 801 Sixth Street South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. riceb@allkids.org
authors.forename: Bonnie A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D030881:Disclosure; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007902:Length of Stay; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology