Using Lean methodology to improve the time to antibiotics in oncology patients on chemotherapy who present to the ED with neutropenic fever.

Authors

null

Brian J. Byrne

Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute, New Britain, CT

Brian J. Byrne, Frederick Bailey, Pat Montanaro, Patricia Anne DeFusco

Organizations

Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute, New Britain, CT, Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute, Norwich, CT, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute, Wethersfield, CT

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: Neutropenic fever is a medical emergency. Delays in treatment can lead to increase in morbidity, mortality, and increase length of stay. The American Society of Clinical Oncology currently recommends that antibiotics be prescribed within 60 minutes of triage. Literature review shows through a multidisciplinary effort involving the ED, lab, oncology, and pharmacy significant improvement in time to antibiotics can be achieved. Since many patients with neutropenic fever present with sepsis, these guidelines also will need to be followed. Methods: Three PDSA cycles were conducted. The first involved education of the ED staff on the importance of treating neutropenic fever and using the correct antibiotic. The second PDSA cycle involved the laboratory and the calling of critical white counts and low neutrophil counts. The third PDSA involves patient education on the importance of temperature monitoring and reporting they are on chemotherapy to ED staff. Results: Baseline data show only 33% of patients receive the correct antibiotic and the average time to administration is 3 hours and 41 minutes. Results of the quality improvement project show a substantial improvement in time to antibiotic administration to 1 hour 58 minutes and an increase in the percentage of patients who receive the correct antibiotic. The time from the specimen received in the lab until critical called also improved from 1 hour 14 minutes to 18.5 minutes. Conclusions: This quality improvement led to a significant improvement in time to correct antibiotics, but several additional steps need to be taken to meet ASCO guidelines.

Statistical analysis.

Measure Baseline Data Experimental P-Value
Time to antibiotics 3 hour 41 minutes 1 hour 58 minutes 0.00051
Time to lab results 2 hours 21 minutes 2 hours 5 minutes 0.73
Time to critical lab called 2 hours 18 minutes 1 hour 37 minutes 0.42
Received in lab until critical lab called 1 hour 14 minutes 18.5 minutes 0.085
Appropriate antibiotic prescribed 33% 62.5% 0.23
Correct time and antibiotics 11% 12.5% 0.94

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Cost, Value, and Policy; Health Equity and Disparities

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy,Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities

Sub Track

Guideline-Concordant Care Initiatives

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl 27; abstr 31)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.27_suppl.31

Abstract #

31

Poster Bd #

C10

Abstract Disclosures