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. 2021 Oct;11(5):413-419.
doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001109.

Decreasing Emergency Department Visits for Children With Epilepsy

Anup D Patel  1 , Andrea Debs  1 , Debbie Terry  1 , William Parker  1 , Mary Burch  1 , Debra Luciano  1 , Lauren Patton  1 , Jena Brubaker  1 , Julie Chrisman  1 , Kathy Moellman  1 , James Herbst  1 , Daniel M Cohen  1
Affiliations

Decreasing Emergency Department Visits for Children With Epilepsy

Anup D Patel et al. Neurol Clin Pract. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Epilepsy and seizures represent a frequent cause of emergency department (ED) visits for patients. By implementing quality improvement (QI) methodology, we planned to decrease ED visits for children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Methods: In 2016, a multidisciplinary team was created to implement QI methodology to address ED visits for patients with epilepsy. Based on previous successes, further ED visit reduction was deemed possible. Our aim statement was to decrease the number of ED visits, per 1000 established patients with epilepsy, from 13.03 to 11.6, by December 2019 and sustain for 1 year.

Results: We successfully decreased ED visits for seizure-related care in patients with epilepsy from 13.03% to 10.2% per 1,000 patients, which resulted in a centerline shift.

Discussion: Using QI methodology, we improved the outcome measure of decreasing ED visits for children with epilepsy. Implementations of these interventions can be considered at other institutions that may lead to similar results.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Key Driver Diagram
ED = emergency department; NCH = Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Figure 2
Figure 2. U Chart With ED Visit Reduction
ED = emergency department; SAP = seizure action plan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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