Implementation of a 'Meds to Beds' program significantly increased the percentage of pediatric patients discharged with medications in hand from 48.9% to 71.7% (P = 0.0024).
Does a "Meds to Beds" program increase the percentage of patients discharged with medications in hand and reduce turnaround time in a children's hospital?
A "Meds to Beds" quality improvement program successfully increased the percentage of pediatric patients discharged with medications in hand and reduced delivery turnaround time.
Absolute Event Rate: 71.7% vs 48.9%
p-value: p=0.0024
INTRODUCTION: Patients who are unable to fill prescriptions after discharge are at risk of hospital readmission. Ensuring that patients have prescriptions in hand at the time of discharge is a critical component of a safe and effective discharge process. Using a "Meds to Beds" program, we aimed to increase the percentage of patients discharged from Holtz Children's Hospital with medications in hand from 49% to 80%, reduce turnaround time (TAT) from electronic prescription signature to bedside delivery from 4.9 hours (±2.6 hours) to 2 hours, and increase caregiver satisfaction. METHODS: We formed a multidisciplinary team and implemented 4 patient-centered interventions through iterative plan-do-study-act cycles. Statistical process control charts were used to understand the impact of the interventions over 10 months. Hospital length of stay and discharges before 2:00 pm were used as balancing measures. We measured caregiver satisfaction using a telephone survey administered by pediatric residents within 7 days after discharge. RESULTS: The mean percentage of patients discharged with medications in hand increased to 76%. TAT decreased to 3.5 hours (±1.8 hours). Length of stay did not significantly increase, whereas the percentage of patients discharged before 2:00 pm did. Caregivers of patients who had prescriptions delivered to their bedside reported high levels of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Using a "Meds to Beds" program, we increased the percentage of patients discharged with medications in hand, decreased TAT with reduced variability, and achieved high levels of caregiver satisfaction. Importantly, there was a shift in the culture of the institution toward improved medication access for patients.
Katz et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Pediatric patients requiring discharge prescriptions (n=319). Meds to Beds program vs. Standard discharge process (baseline) was evaluated on Percentage of patients discharged with medications in hand (p=0.0024). Implementation of a 'Meds to Beds' program significantly increased the percentage of pediatric patients discharged with medications in hand from 48.9% to 71.7% (P = 0.0024).