Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware – Emergency Department
Wilmington, Delaware
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware – Emergency Department
Proactive, data-driven care has led to marked reductions in sepsis and IV infiltrations among the roughly 57,500 patient visits Nemours Children’s Hospital sees each year.
Recognizing the urgency of pediatric sepsis, the ED launched a multidisciplinary taskforce to reduce the time until antibiotic administration. Through targeted education, electronic medical record enhancements and unit-based antibiotic storage, the average administration time dropped by nearly 23 percent—from 50.9 to 39.5 minutes. Empowering nurses to escalate concerns and improving clinical tools has led to faster, more effective, care for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
The ED also took action to avoid IV infiltrations, which can have serious consequences, especially for pediatric patients. Through the – Peripheral IV Infiltrations and Extravasations, or PIVIE, team, rigorous hourly assessments and a hospital-wide education refresh, the department saw rising infiltration rates reverse course. By December 2024, the 50-bed ED achieved zero infiltrations of any kind.
Recognizing the urgency of pediatric sepsis, the ED launched a multidisciplinary taskforce to reduce the time until antibiotic administration. Through targeted education, electronic medical record enhancements and unit-based antibiotic storage, the average administration time dropped by nearly 23 percent—from 50.9 to 39.5 minutes. Empowering nurses to escalate concerns and improving clinical tools has led to faster, more effective, care for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
The ED also took action to avoid IV infiltrations, which can have serious consequences, especially for pediatric patients. Through the – Peripheral IV Infiltrations and Extravasations, or PIVIE, team, rigorous hourly assessments and a hospital-wide education refresh, the department saw rising infiltration rates reverse course. By December 2024, the 50-bed ED achieved zero infiltrations of any kind.