Expanding pediatric services to include adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: During COVID-19, pediatric hospital admissions decreased, leaving many inpatient pediatric units at reduced capacity. Pediatric units could be adapted for use as inpatient beds for adult patients. AIMS: The specific aims were to describe the rapid expansion of pediatric services to include adult patients and examine the characteristics of adult patients treated and managed by pediatric providers and nurses. METHODS: This quality improvement project used a plan-do-study-act cycle to evaluate project implementation and effectiveness with cycle changes. Adults age 19 to 30 were admitted to the pediatric unit. Process, outcome, and balancing measures were used as measurements. RESULTS: A total of 88 adult patients were admitted. No rapid responses were called during the intervention period. The number of adverse safety events were compared ten months prior to the ten months post intervention and was not statistically significant (p = 0.194). CONCLUSION: This project serves as a model for other pediatric medical-surgical units and PICUs to rapidly develop a plan to serve adult patients, whether amid the COVID-19 pandemic or adult patients with chronic childhood disorders. These results suggest that pediatric staff can safely care for adults when a pediatric team structure and familiar environment are maintained.