Using Quality Improvement to Increase Utilization of Enteral Therapy in Pediatric Crohn Disease: Results and Outcomes

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) for induction of remission in children with Crohn's disease (CD) is recommended as first line therapy, but underutilized in the United States related to real and perceived barriers. We hypothesized that quality improvement (QI) methodology could increase use of EEN.Methods:We developed, implemented, and revised an algorithm and a set of tools to facilitate use of EEN. Through a series of Plan Do Study Act cycles, the approach was modified to overcome provider and patient/family barriers. The primary outcome, the percentage of newly diagnosed CD patients who receive EEN per month between July 2013 and October 2015, assessed using statistical process control. Secondary outcomes, including the short pediatric Crohn's disease activity index (sPCDAI), body mass index (BMI) Z score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and hemoglobin were compared before and after EEN.Results:Among patients newly diagnosed with CD, 73 patients initiated EEN and were included (mean age 12.7 ± 2.9 years, 49% female, 86% white). Rates of utilization of EEN increased significantly from a baseline of 

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