Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH Pediatric Emergency Department
Tampa, Florida
Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH Pediatric Emergency Department
After pediatric-specific data tracking revealed blood culture contamination rates in the Muma Children’s Hospital 11-bed emergency department approaching 9 percent in early 2024, a multidisciplinary team implemented targeted interventions including specialized education, bedside audits, ultrasound-guided training and enhanced pediatric nurse staffing. These efforts resulted in a sustained reduction in contamination rates, with the last six of eight months achieving zero contamination and an overall average rate of just 0.52 percent. The initiative improved diagnostic accuracy, reduced unnecessary antibiotic use, strengthened family trust and fostered a culture of accountability and clinical excellence through ongoing education and performance monitoring.
The ED team has also focused on strengthening clinical expertise through advanced education, certification and simulation training. Beginning in 2024, all nurses completed core certifications including BLS, ACLS, PALS, Pediatric ESI 2.0 and specialized training in neonatal stabilization and ultrasound-guided IV access. Additional programs such as Advanced Burn Life Support, Pediatric Trauma RN training and FEMA emergency preparedness courses further enhanced staff readiness. The department also expanded simulation-based learning with pediatric-specific manikins and scenario-based education. These efforts created a culture of continuous learning, improving trauma response, triage accuracy, procedural competency and overall preparedness for high-acuity pediatric care.