TABLE 1.

Outcomes to Evaluate the Quality and Safety of Direct Admission to the Hospital

Timeliness
• Total time from the time of arrival on the pediatric unit to initial assessment by the admitting physician or advanced practice provider
• Time from initial call from the referring clinician until the patient is accepted for direct admission or routed elsewhere
• Total time from the time of arrival on the pediatric unit to initiation of treatment
Efficiency
• Number/% of patients admitted to the unit or service who are admitted directly
• Number/% of directly admitted patients who are discharged from the hospital within 8 h of arrival
• Number/% of directly admitted patients believed to be unnecessary or inappropriate from the perspective of the accepting physician
• Total costs of the hospitalization
Safety
• Unanticipated transfer to the PICU or to another hospital for a higher level of care within 6 h of hospital admission
• Rapid response calls within 6 h of hospital admission
• Rates of medication errors
Experiences of care
• Patient and family experience of care
• Referring clinician experience of care
• Inpatient team experience of care