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. 2021 Mar 26;10(2):196-200.
doi: 10.1093/jpids/piaa033.

"Meds-in-Hand" Intervention to Reduce Critical Process Delays in Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Affiliations

"Meds-in-Hand" Intervention to Reduce Critical Process Delays in Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Rachel L Epstein et al. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. .

Abstract

Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis is frequently indicated, but delays in medication receipt are common. Using plan-do-study-act cycles, we developed a multidisciplinary collaboration to reduce critical process delays in our pediatric emergency department. Interruptions decreased from a median 1 per month pre-intervention to zero per month during the intervention.

Keywords: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); pediatric HIV; post-exposure prophylaxis; quality improvement.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Run chart: human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) prescription delays. Bars indicate the number of patients each month prescribed PEP; orange indicates number with delay in medication receipt causing PEP interruption (lapse ≥24 hours for daily regimens, or ≥12 hours for twice daily regimens, between first PEP dose and any subsequent doses); blue indicates those without an interruption; and gray indicates those with insufficient data to determine. Solid line indicates number of patients each month leaving without a starter pack. Dashed line represents median number of patients with an interruption or who failed to receive a starter pack (lines overlap as median shift occurred in same month). Arrows indicate PDSA cycles. Abbreviation: PDSA, plan-do-study-act.

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