CUSTOMER STORY:
Cincinnati Children’s Uses VigiLanz Clinical Surveillance to Identify Patients with Penicillin Allergies
Background
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of the country’s oldest and most respected pediatric hospitals. Known for excellence in patient care, research, and medical education, the hospital ranks first in the nation among all Honor Roll Hospitals in the 2023-2024 listing of Best Children’s Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report.
Challenge
Hospitals face multiple challenges when caring for patients with penicillin allergy labels. When a person has a penicillin allergy, they often receive alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics in place of a penicillin. Alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics often cost more, have more side effects, and are not as effective.
Many patients with penicillin allergy labels may not need an alternative broad-spectrum antibiotic instead of a penicillin. That’s because most patients who have had a penicillin-associated reaction may not actually be allergic to it. When re-exposed to the penicillin (such as amoxicillin), most patients will tolerate the penicillin again. This is also true for those who have a true allergy to the penicillin, as many patients are able to tolerate penicillin again 10 years after exposure.
In 2019, Cincinnati Children’s began looking for a way to better identify pediatric patients who fell into these categories and, as a result, could have their penicillin allergy labels cleared.
Solution
When Cincinnati Children’s launched this initiative, it had already been working with VigiLanz, an Inovalon solution, since 2013. The hospital’s positive experience with the clinical surveillance software—and knowledge of its antibiotic stewardship capabilities—led them to quickly explore how it could support their efforts.
The hospital’s Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing Services (PATS) team began by setting up filters, notifications, and reports in the solution to build a registry of children that might benefit from the additional penicillin allergy testing. These filters automatically identified patients with penicillin, amoxicillin, and/or augmentin allergies.
The PATS team also set up notifications within VigiLanz Pharmacy Surveillance to receive automated email alerts to help the hospital rapidly identify more patients who could be safely tested for allergy labels. As a result, the hospital proactively identified more opportunities to clear penicillin allergy labels and initiate optimal treatment plans earlier, reducing costs and length of stay.
”VigiLanz has helped to ensure that patients are receiving the most preferred antibiotic. This is also leading to more effective—and less costly—medication usage.”
Michelle Wessels, RN II, MSNCare Coordinator of Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing Services
Outcomes
Thanks to these efforts, the PATS team has helped clear 74 out of 78 identified penicillin allergy labels, consistent with industry research that more than 95% of children who have experienced penicillin-associated reactions can tolerate penicillin in the future.
The PATS team has also identified patients that could benefit from this testing that they would not have found otherwise, broadening their impact to more children throughout the organization who can avoid unnecessary reactions and have a good care experience.
”Overall, we’ve reduced costs and length of stay due to this approach. Most importantly, we’ve been able to provide optimal care to our patients during hospital admission, discharge, and recovery.”
Michelle Wessels, RN II, MSNCare Coordinator of Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing Services
Ready to Improve Medication Management at Your Institution?
Discover how VigiLanz Pharmacy Surveillance can help clinical teams enhance antimicrobial stewardship for better patient care.
