Pediatric Inpatient Leaders, Views Changed with COVID-19: A Call to Re-engage in Quality Improvement

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Improving patient care experiences is integral to the quality of care for hospitalized patients, including children and their families.1–3 Effective quality improvement (QI) requires incremental changes guided by measurement, monitoring, and performance feedback,4 all of which were challenged or disrupted by the 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).5–7 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many, if not all, hospital processes were impacted. As part of a larger study,8–11 we had the opportunity to compare quality leaders’ perceptions of using patient experience surveys before and during COVID-19. This commentary aims to share the perspectives of inpatient pediatric leaders before and during COVID-19, as these data highlight the need to re-engage in efforts to improve pediatric care experiences.