Quality Improvement Committee

Hello, PCICS community! As co-chair of the Quality Improvement (QI) Committee, I’m excited to share some updates about our team’s recent accomplishments and upcoming initiatives. It’s been a busy and productive time for us, and I’m so proud of the incredible work being done to advance quality improvement in pediatric cardiac critical care.

 Highlights from the PCICS Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting was a milestone for the QI Committee, with several exciting developments to celebrate:

• QILT² Course: We hosted the inaugural Quality Improvement Leadership and Think Tank (QILT²) course, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive! This interactive workshop was designed to support PCICS members eager to deepen their QI knowledge and skills, and we’re excited to continue offering this unique resource.
• Top QI Abstract Session: For the first time, QI abstracts were featured as a stand-alone session, separate from the research abstracts. This is a testament to the growth and evolution of the QI field and the increasing interest in QI science within our community. Congratulations to our Top QI Abstract winners for their remarkable contributions:
  • Melissa Winder (Primary Children’s Hospital): Utilization of an algorithm for the management of postoperative chylothorax in children: A multi-center quality improvement initiative
  • Amelia Wirth (Children’s Hospital Colorado): Resuscitation Scorecard Utilization During Cardiac Arrest Debriefing Improves Resuscitation Team Performance and Patient Outcomes
  • Amy Ardaya & Nirali Thakker (Lucille Packard): Rapid Cycle Improvements from a real-time mortality review process is associated with improvements in cardiac surgical mortality rates
  • Ev Goldart (University of Michigan): Improving Feeding Outcomes Through Nasotracheal Intubation
  • Meghan Engler (Children’s Hospital of Atlanta): Institutional Norwood Course Correction Program Implementation to Decrease Adverse Outcomes
  • Emily Maloney (Children’s Hospital Colorado): CINCO Improves Access to Therapy Services, Delirium, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

 Looking Ahead
We’re excited about what’s next for the QI Committee:

• QI Grand Rounds: Launching in March, this webinar series will dive into critical QI topics like Flight Plans, Sedation in the CICU, and How to Write a QI Abstract.
• QI Podcast Series: As part of the PCICS podcast platform, this QI series will feature interviews with our top QI abstract authors, offering valuable insights and practical strategies.
• Virtual QILT² Course: We’re thrilled to bring this course to a broader audience with a virtual offering this spring!

 Leadership Updates
I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Jennifer Gauntt as my new co-chair!
Jennifer is a pediatric cardiac intensivist and Co-Director of Quality Improvement for the Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She’s been a dedicated PCICS member since 2015 and a key contributor to the QI Committee since its reintroduction in 2019. Dr Gauntt received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, completed combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Christiana Care Health System and AI duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, and completed Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship plus an additional Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care fellowship at Children’s National in Washington, DC. A native of the East Coast, Dr Gauntt has been enjoying exploring the Midwest with her wife and 7-year-old son since they moved to central Ohio in 2018.  Her expertise and passion for quality improvement will undoubtedly help us reach new heights.

I also want to take a moment to thank Greg Yurasek for his outstanding leadership during his two-year term as co-chair. Greg’s dedication and vision have been instrumental in advancing our mission, and I’m incredibly grateful for his contributions.

 Growing Our Team
Our committee continues to expand! We’ve welcomed eight new members who bring fresh ideas and energy to our work. We’re excited to collaborate with this talented group as we push forward on impactful QI initiatives.

Thank you all for your support and engagement with the QI Committee. Together, we’re making meaningful strides to improve care for our patients and families.