title: Implementation and evaluation of an automated patient death notification policy at a tertiary pediatric oncology referral center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Not knowing about a child's death can result in poor quality of care coordination among staff and poor quality bereavement care for families. The purpose of this project was to create, implement, and evaluate an automated Patient Death Notification policy and procedure (PDNPP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline and follow-up surveys of clinical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implementation of a PDNPP that created an automated, systematic process for staff notification of patient deaths.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six percent of the staff rated the PDNPP as a significant improvement; 91% reported being "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with the PDNPP, whereas only 44% of the staff were satisfied with the process at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of an automated PDNPP was feasible and improved staff satisfaction about how they were informed of patient deaths. Staff also reported being notified about patient deaths more quickly, performing their jobs more efficiently, being able to avoid doing something that might upset the deceased patient's family, and being able to better provide support to bereaved families.
authors: Division of Palliative and End-of-Life Care, Department of Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. justin.baker@stjude.org
authors: Justin N
authors: JN
authors: Baker
authors: Joann
authors: J
authors: Harper
authors: Javier R
authors: JR
authors: Kane
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: Hicks
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Ward
authors: Pamela S
authors: PS
authors: Hinds
authors: Sheri L
authors: SL
authors: Spunt
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D001932:Brain Neoplasms; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035622:Parental Notification; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome