Development and evaluation of a minimum data set for children with airway support for transfers between acute and post-acute care

Abstract

Objective: To generate consensus on the reasons why children with airway support transfer between acute and post-acute care; develop a minimum data set to transmit between care settings; and examine transfer reports to determine the frequency of data set content.

Study design: Two consensus development meetings were conducted of acute and post-acute care professionals to identify reasons for transfer and develop the minimum data set. A content analysis was used to generate the frequency of inclusion of minimum data set elements in the narrative reports of 15 acute to post-acute and 15 post-acute to acute transfer summaries. The observed frequencies were compared with the expected frequencies (95%), as were frequencies between the two groups.

Results: Advanced diagnostic assessment and unexpected changes in medical, surgical and mental health conditions were the primary reasons for transfer from post-acute to acute care. For transfers in both directions, 20 of the 34 data elements were present in <75% of the cases and were statistically different than the pre-set 95% standard. No statistical difference in the occurrence of data elements between transfer directions existed.

Conclusion: A minimum data set has the potential to reduce redundancy, improve safety and optimize care co-ordination between facilities for children with airway support.

• Children
• hospital reports
• artificial respiration