On October 22, 2024, IHQI’s 10th annual Improvement Scholars Symposium was held in the Old Clinic Auditorium at the UNC School of Medicine. Clinicians, selected as Improvement Scholars and Fellows, delivered presentations about their efforts to enhance patient care through their year-long quality improvement projects. The event consisted of eight engaging presentations on the outcomes of the following projects:
- Diagnostic Stewardship of the Fungal Ab Panel by Bri Castillo, MD: This project was focused on the laboratory testing of fungal infections. It is on track to save the organization $90,000 in test fees and additional patient dollars in out-of-pocket expenses for copays while ensuring that patients receive the diagnostic tests they need.
- Improving Obstetric Outcomes through Standardized Induction Protocols by Elizabeth Coviello, DO and Jeff Reinhardt, MD: Through their work addressing systems issues around induction protocol use, this team saved an average of 90 minutes of labor time for pregnant persons greater than 37 weeks whose labors were induced.
- Transitions of Care for Patients with Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) by Cassi Frank, MMSc, PA-C: This project helped over 20% of VTE patients get access to medications that were essential to treating their condition.
- Improving Transitions of Care from the Emergency Department to Oncology Specialty Care by Ben Linthicum, DNP, FNP-C, ACNPC-AG, CEN and Tammy Triglianos, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCNP: By improving referral processes, this team achieved an average referral turnaround time of 3 business days for Emergency Department patients so that the diagnostic process is started earlier and in the outpatient setting.
- Early Peanut Introduction in Infants to Prevent Peanut Allergy by Lauren Herlihy, DNP, CPNP, MSN: This team ensured 762 patients aged 4 to 12 months received care to prevent peanut allergies.
- Bivalirudin in Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Patients by Ursula Adams, MD, MBA and Lauren Brown, DO: This team established bivalirudin, a medication with the potential of reducing thrombotic and bleeding events, as the standard of care for pediatric ECLS patients. They also established a data collection system that will allow for enhanced efficacy analysis moving forward
- Improving Pathways of Care Following Emergency Department Discharge for Renal Colic by Dave Friedlander, MD, MPH: This project increased the percentage of renal colic patients discharged from the Emergency Department with an ambulatory urology referral from 12% to 40%.
- Identification and Management of Admitted Patients at Risk for Moderate to Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) by Ashmita Chatterjee, MD, Amy Dacillo-Curso, DNP, ACNP-BC, and Melissa Pabalan, MD: By changing the standard of care from benzodiazepines to phenobarbital, this team reduced escalation of care for alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This change will be implemented at the system level through Care Redesign.
A recording of the symposium can be viewed here and slide decks from each team’s presentation can be viewed here.