PECARN Research Grows
Cincinnati Children’s is one of 18 institutions in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). Richard Ruddy, MD, is a principal investigator and is the Vice Chair, Steering Committee. We enroll in four network studies including defining the biosignatures in febrile infants and a knowledge implementation project to reduce CT scan use in mild head injury. Our node is sponsoring a proposed study to examine the use of probiotics in gastroenteritis.
Clinical and Prevention Research
Findings from a study led by Lynn Babcock, MD, MS, on predictors of post-concussion syndrome were published online June 22 in Brain Injury. Benjamin Kerrey, MD, Matthew Mittiga, MD, Gary Geis, MD, and Andrea Rinderknecht, MD, conducted a video review of rapid sequence intubation that revealed failed attempts and adverse effects were more common than previously reported. Their findings, published online March 15 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, prompted our division to trial a bundle of improvements to decrease complications. Gregory Faris, MD, received a Young Investigator Award for his project on predictors of post-concussion syndrome.
In prevention research, division members continued important work in smoking prevention, led by Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, MD, MS; cultural issues across ethnic groups, led by Lisa Vaughn, PhD; injury control, led by Mike Gittelman, MD, and Wendy Pomerantz, MD; mental health screening by Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, MD, MPH and teen STIs, led by Jennifer Reed, MD.
Quality Improvement Research
Srikant Iyer, MD, MPH, was awarded the best scientific paper at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement meeting for his work on “Flow in the ED Fast Track.” Evaline Alessandrini , MD, MSCE, presented her work on “Time to Critical Intervention in High Risk Cancer Patients” at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Boston.
Clinical Program
Joseph Luria, MD, had a second year of strong performance from the clinical leadership team of physicians and APNs. Highlights included completing the improvement project to deliver antibiotics to oncology patients with fever and neutropenia, reducing length of stay in the ED and reducing patient experience failures. All of this was accomplished while treating more than 145,000 patients at our two EDs and three urgent care sites.
Awards and Education Highlights
Mike Gittelman, MD, and Wendy Pomerantz, MD, were the first recipients of the Annual Faculty Award for Advocacy. The Division also received the Pediatric Residency Teaching Award and Brad Sobolewski, MD, was named Pediatric Residency Faculty Teacher of the Year. Matthew Mittiga, MD, was appointed Associate Program Director for the PEM Fellowship and Sobolewski was appointed the Director of Resident Education.
The second year of PEM morning education meetings was highly successful and it continues to include a PEM conference, hands-on simulation and case discussions. Dr. Sobolewski began developing a new video orientation process, as well as a new online process to facilitate evaluation of direct observations and trauma/medical resuscitation orientation. Highlights include a workshop at the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting on Conflict Management, led by Dr. Ruddy and Gonzalez del Rey, MD, MEd, and hosting the annual PEM fellowship conference. Internationally, the Division is partnering with Global Health and the Pediatric Residency program to develop a rotation in Malawi for trainees. The Division completed a year-long development program for emerging leaders with Scott Steel, from Education and Learning, and 14 fellows and faculty. Drs. Gonzalez del Rey and Ruddy co-authored with faculty in Bilbao, Spain on the development of an international program in PEM.
