Standardized admission order set improves perceived quality of pediatric inpatient care.
BACKGROUND
Few studies exist on the ability of standardized preprinted order forms to improve patient care.


OBJECTIVE
To examine resident-perceived effects of introducing a pediatric admission order set (PAOS) on the quality of inpatient care.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Children's Hospital, a nonprofit, tertiary-care teaching hospital and major referral center with approximately 3,000 admissions per year.


METHODS
A total of 97 pediatric residents (PL-1, n=34; PL-2, n=33; and PL-3, n=30) who did the vast majority of the inpatient admissions.


METHODS
Residents were asked to rate the PAOS overall and with respect to 9 specific dimensions using a 5-point Likert scale.


RESULTS
Overall, 89% of respondents approved of the PAOS, 58% reported using it >or= 90% of the time, and all said that they would recommend it to their colleagues. Eighty-four percent thought that it improved inpatient care, and 75% thought that medical errors were reduced. Eighty-eight percent reported that the PAOS saved time; 93% said it was convenient; and most reported less need for clarification with secretaries (81%) and nurses (82%). In multivariate regression analyses, the only predictor of overall rating was whether the PAOS improved inpatient care (P=0.04). Improved patient care, meanwhile, was predicted by whether the PAOS was comprehensive (P=0.01), reduced medical errors (P=0.01), and required less clarification with nurses (P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A standardized admission order set is a simple, low-cost intervention that residents believe may benefit patients by reducing medical errors and expediting high-quality care.
Bekmezian
Arpi
A
Division of General Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 94143-0110, USA. bekmeziana@peds.ucsf.edu
Chung
Paul J
PJ
Yazdani
Shahram
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D015141:Los Angeles; D008485:Medical Audit; D019300:Medical Errors; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D010343:Patient Admission; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*