Implementation of an Improved Pediatric Emergency Drug Dose Calculator at an Adult Academic Medical System

Three percent of patients treated at University of Utah Health Care each year are pediatric patients (age 1 month to 18 years; <30 kilograms). With an emphasis on collaboration among pharmacy, nursing, and informatics staff, we accomplished the projects goals and improved patient safety in our health system.

Implementation of an improved pediatric emergency drug dose calculator at an adult academic medical system Ann Marie B. Prazak, PharmD, BCPS; Jessica M. Louie, PharmD, BCCCP; Brian Barker, RPh Anastasia Diamantopoulos, PharmD, BCCCP; Maureen Ghanem, PharmD; Jeannie Rollo, PharmD; Amy Scott, PharmD; Tyler Sledge, PharmD Kristy Gauthier, BSN, RN; Alexandra Wubbels, RN, BSN University of Utah Health Care Department of Pharmacy Services Introduction Project Goals  Three percent of patients treated at University of Utah Health Care each year are pediatric patients (age 1 month to 18 years; <30 kilograms).  Cardiac and/or respiratory arrests are rare at approximately three documented cases per year.  In 2014, critical care pharmacists identified the need to replace an outdated system-wide pediatric emergency drug dose calculator software program that was implemented in April 1989. 1) Replace archaic software program with a department-owned calculator that is easily updated as guidelines and medication concentrations change 2) Update printed booklets on crash carts and emergency backup boxes 3) Develop a process for future maintenance of electronic and printed versions of the calculator Methods August 2014 Team initiated multidisciplinary strategy to reconstruct outdated calculator August 2014 to March 2015 Pharmacy team developed new pediatric emergency drug dose calculator in Microsoft Excel Nurses and pharmacists tested the program and provided revisions April 2015 Pharmacy department implemented updated calculator Informatics team posted file to Pulse and clinical desktops for access Pharmacy department formatted calculator with weights of 3 to 30 kilograms into printed, bound booklet for each crash cart and backup box Pharmacy team provided education to nursing, pharmacy, and physician staff Calculator used for all pediatric patients admitted to emergency departments and hospitals Results  With an emphasis on collaboration among pharmacy, nursing, and informatics staff, we accomplished the projects goals and improved patient safety in our health system. Figure 1: Example of Calculator Page 1