Optimizing Pain Management For Children With Sickle Cell Disease Vaso-occlusive Crisis In The Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder which predisposes affected children to episodic pain events, known as Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). VOC is the most common reason for emergency department (ED) visits in patients with SCD. National guidelines recommend analgesic therapy within 60 minutes of registration. This QI project specific aim was to assess the mean time from check-in to first analgesic delivery to patients with VOC presenting at Holtz Children’s Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) and to reduce this time by at least 20% (from 90 minutes to 72 minutes) during a …