069 - Centralized and online access to clinical guidelines improves accessibility and consistency in care across multiple units in an academic children’s hospital

Publication Number: 69.4161

Solomon P. Tatagiri, University of California Davis Children's Hospital, Sacramento, CA, United States; Christina Sollinger, University of California Davis Children's Hospital, Sacramento, CA, United States; Michelle Y. Hamline, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States

Background: In clinical environments, access to up-to-date, peer-reviewed, and institutionally endorsed clinical guidelines is essential for delivering standardized, consistent care. A review of guideline accessibility within our institution revealed that multiple units relied on diverse online and offline resources, contributing to perceived delays and inconsistencies in patient care.

Objective: Our project aims to establish a centralized online platform for clinical guidelines and resources, facilitating easier access and promoting greater consistency in patient care.

Design/Methods: Following a review of existing clinical resources across hospital units, a pre-implementation survey of faculty and trainees identified a strong need for a centralized, easily accessible, and regularly updated online platform for clinical guidelines. Using implementation science techniques, a structured approach was adopted, creating a defined structure within each pediatric division to consolidate, update, and peer-review their specialty guidelines. Clinical guidelines were standardized across all divisions with a formal template and a medical-legal disclaimer, then uploaded to a Pediatric Clinical Guidelines (PCG) webpage accessible via internet search engines, QR codes, and a quick access link on our institution’s EPIC toolbar. Outreach and educational adaptations were conducted to promote the platform, and webpage effectiveness and sustainability were assessed through usage tracking and a post-implementation survey.

Results: Approximately 50 pediatric clinical guidelines were uploaded to the PCG webpage after the launch. The PCG webpage was accessed by users from 23 countries, mainly the US (60%), and became the most visited page on the university website. Data collected from the post-implementation survey revealed a 61% improvement in the ability to locate and access clinical guidelines, as well as a 52% perceived consistency in patient care quality.

Conclusion(s): The PCG webpage has proven to be an accessible and valuable resource for enhancing patient care through regularly updated guidelines. Since its launch, additional guidelines have been added, with plans to expand the content to include outpatient and emergency department resources. Future objectives include gathering objective data to further assess its impact on patient care. Usage tracking indicates that the PCG webpage is a critical resource for UC Davis Children’s Hospital, affiliated locations, and healthcare providers worldwide.