Examining Emergency Department Treatment Processes in Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.
In the treatment of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), timely treatment of patients can affect the outcome. Our objectives were to examine the treatment process of acute pediatric TBI and the impact of non-value-added time (NVAT) on patient outcomes.



Data for 136 pediatric trauma patients (age < 18 years) with severe TBI from 2 trauma centers in the United States were collected. A process flow and value stream map identified NVATs and their sources in the treatment process. Cluster and regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between NVAT, as a percentage of the patient's length of stay (LOS), and the patient outcome, measured by their corresponding Glasgow outcome scale.



There were 14 distinct sources of NVAT identified. A regression analysis showed that increased NVAT was associated with less favorable outcomes (relative ratio = 1.015, confidence interval = [1.002-1.029]). Specifically, 1% increase in the NVAT-to-LOS ratio was associated with a 1.5% increase in the chance of a less favorable outcome (i.e., death or vegetative state).



The NVAT has a significant impact on the outcome of pediatric TBI, and every minute spent on performing non-value-added processes can lead to an increase in the likelihood of less favorable outcomes.
Ali
A
Ajdari
Linda Ng
LN
Boyle
Nithya
N
Kannan
Ali
A
Rowhani-Rahbar
Jin
J
Wang
Richard
R
Mink
Benjamin
B
Ries
Mark
M
Wainwright
Jonathan I
JI
Groner
Michael J
MJ
Bell
Chris
C
Giza
Douglas F
DF
Zatzick
Richard G
RG
Ellenbogen
Pamela H
PH
Mitchell
Frederick P
FP
Rivara
Monica S
MS
Vavilala
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States