title: Initial steps for quality improvement of obesity care across divisions at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric subspecialists can participate in the care of obese children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe steps to help subspecialty providers initiate quality improvement efforts in obesity care.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous patient data download, provider surveys and interviews assessed subspecialty providers' identification and perspectives of childhood obesity and gathered information on perceived roles and care strategies. Participating divisions received summary analyses of quantitative and qualitative data and met with study leaders to develop visions for division/service-specific care improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 13 divisions/services, subspecialists' perceived role varied by specialty; many expressed the need for cross-collaboration. All survey informants agreed that identification was the first step, and expressed interest in obtaining additional resources to improve care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subspecialists were interested in improving the quality and coordination of obesity care for patients across our tertiary care setting. Developing quality improvement projects to achieve greater pediatric obesity care goals starts with engagement of providers toward better identifying and managing childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. schang39@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Sheila Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. beach046@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Beacher
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. skwon@luriechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Soyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. megan.mccarville@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McCarville
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. hbinns@luriechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. aariza@luriechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Adolfo J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ariza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D058996:Quality Improvement; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D014504:Urban Health