BACKGROUND: Many hospitals use rapid response systems (RRSs) to identify and intervene on hospitalized children at risk for deterioration.

OBJECTIVES: To describe RRS characteristics across hospitals in the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS) network.

METHODS: We developed the survey through a series of prospective respondent, expert, and cognitive interviews. One institutional expert per PRIS hospital ( = 109) was asked to complete the web survey. We summarized responses using descriptive statistics with a secondary analysis of univariate associations between RRS characteristics and perceived effectiveness.

RESULTS: The response rate was 72% (79 of 109). Respondents represented diverse hospital types and were primarily physicians (97%) with leadership roles in care escalation. Many hospitals used an early warning score (77%) for identification with variable characteristics (46% automated versus 54% full or partially manual calculation; inputs included vital signs [98%], physical examination findings [88%], diagnoses [23%], medications [19%], and diagnostic tests [14%]). Few incorporated a validated prediction model (9%). Similarly, many RRSs used a rapid response team for intervention (93%) with variable team composition (respiratory therapists [94%], ICU nurses [93%], ICU providers [67%], and pharmacists [27%]). Some used the early warning score to trigger the rapid response team (50%). Only a few staffed a clinician to proactively surveil hospitalized children for risk of deterioration (18%), and these tended to be larger hospitals (annual admissions 12 000 vs 6000, = .007). Most responding experts stated their RRSs improved patient outcomes (92%).

CONCLUSIONS: RRS characteristics varied across PRIS hospitals.

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Many hospitals use rapid response systems (RRSs) to identify and intervene on hospitalized children at risk for deterioration.</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>To describe RRS characteristics across hospitals in the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS) network.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We developed the survey through a series of prospective respondent, expert, and cognitive interviews. One institutional expert per PRIS hospital ( = 109) was asked to complete the web survey. We summarized responses using descriptive statistics with a secondary analysis of univariate associations between RRS characteristics and perceived effectiveness.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The response rate was 72% (79 of 109). Respondents represented diverse hospital types and were primarily physicians (97%) with leadership roles in care escalation. Many hospitals used an early warning score (77%) for identification with variable characteristics (46% automated versus 54% full or partially manual calculation; inputs included vital signs [98%], physical examination findings [88%], diagnoses [23%], medications [19%], and diagnostic tests [14%]). Few incorporated a validated prediction model (9%). Similarly, many RRSs used a rapid response team for intervention (93%) with variable team composition (respiratory therapists [94%], ICU nurses [93%], ICU providers [67%], and pharmacists [27%]). Some used the early warning score to trigger the rapid response team (50%). Only a few staffed a clinician to proactively surveil hospitalized children for risk of deterioration (18%), and these tended to be larger hospitals (annual admissions 12 000 vs 6000, = .007). Most responding experts stated their RRSs improved patient outcomes (92%).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>RRS characteristics varied across PRIS hospitals.</p>

<p>Clinical practice variations are a barrier to the study of pediatric heart transplants and coordination of multicenter RCTs in this patient population. We surveyed centers to describe practice patterns, understand areas of variation, and willingness to modify protocol. Pediatric heart transplant centers were identified, and one survey was completed per center. Simple descriptive statistics were used. The response rate was 77% (40 responses from 52 contacted centers, 37 with complete responses). Median center volume of respondents was eight transplants/year (IQR 3-19). Most centers reported tacrolimus (36/38, 95%) and mycophenolate mofetil (36/38, 95%) as maintenance immunosuppression. Other immunosuppression agents reported were cyclosporine (7/38, 18%), everolimus or sirolimus (3/38, 8%), and azathioprine (2/38, 5%). Overall, respondents answered similarly for questions regarding clinical practices including induction therapy, maintenance immunosuppression, and rejection treatment threshold (&gt;85% agreement for all). Additionally, willingness to change clinical practices was over 70% for all practices surveyed (35 total respondents), and 97% of centers (36/37) were willing to participate in a RCT of maintenance immunosuppression. In conclusion, we found many similar clinical practice protocols. Most centers are willing to collaborate on a common protocol in order to participate in a RCT and support a trial investigating maintenance immunosuppression.</p>

<p><strong>BACKGROUND : </strong>Residency programs are expected to educate residents in quality improvement (QI). Effective assessments are needed to ensure residents gain QI knowledge and skills. Limitations of current tools include poor interrater reliability and requirement for scorer training.</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE : </strong>To provide evidence for the validity of the Assessment of Quality Improvement Knowledge and Skills (AQIKS), which is a new tool that provides a summative assessment of pediatrics residents' ability to recall QI concepts and apply them to a clinical scenario.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS : </strong>We conducted a quasi-experimental study to measure the AQIKS performance in 2 groups of pediatrics residents: postgraduate year (PGY) 2 residents who participated in a 1-year longitudinal QI curriculum, and a concurrent control group of PGY-1 residents who received no formal QI training. The curriculum included 20 hours of didactics and participation in a resident-led QI project. Three faculty members with clinical QI experience, who were not involved in the curriculum and received no additional training, scored the AQIKS.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS : </strong>Complete data were obtained for 30 of 37 residents (81%) in the intervention group, and 36 of 40 residents (90%) in the control group. After completing a QI curriculum, the intervention group's mean score was 40% higher than at baseline (P &lt; .001), while the control group showed no improvement (P = .29). Interrater reliability was substantial (κ = 0.74).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS : </strong>The AQIKS detects an increase in QI knowledge and skills among pediatrics residents who participated in a QI curriculum, with better interrater reliability than currently available assessment tools.</p>