Guideline-Based Educational Intervention to Decrease the Risk for Readmission of Newborns With Severe Hyperbilirubinemia

    Authors

    J. B. Waldrop; C. K. Anderson;D. H. Brandon

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Pediatr. Health Care

    Keywords

    Hyperbilirubinemia; infant; quality improvement; educational; intervention; guidelines; SEVERE NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA; TERM NEWBORNS; HEALTHY TERM; PRIMARY-CARE; BILIRUBIN; KERNICTERUS; JAUNDICE; INFANTS; SURVEILLANCE; Health Policy & Services; Nursing; Pediatrics

    Abstract

    Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine if educational intervention with medical providers in combination with a management tool to facilitate clinical guideline usage would (a) increase quality of care, (b) increase compliance with published guidelines, and (c) decrease hospital readmissions as a result of hyperbilirubinemia in the first week of life. Method: A quality improvement initiative was undertaken with a preintervention/postintervention design. Intervention: An educational intervention was offered to persons who provide medical care to newborns. The charts of newborns were reviewed before and after the intervention in three samples: a care quality sample (N = 244), a compliance sample (N = 240), and a readmission sample. Results: In the quality care sample, documentation of three quality care indicators improved significantly and one worsened significantly. In the compliance sample, the percentage of infants who were given appropriate follow-up appointments in primary care based on their hyperbilirubinemia risk at discharge improved (p = .03), and the readmission rate of newborns within the first week of life as a result of hyperbilirubinemia decreased by 50%. Discussion: An educational intervention with a clinical tool may help change provider practice. Longer follow-up is needed to determine if the impact is sustainable. J Pediatr Health Care. (2013) 27, 41-50.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Pediatric Health Care

    Volume

    27

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    41

    Last Page

    50

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000312127100009

    ISSN

    0891-5245

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