2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

Pediatric Office for Improvement Science (POISE)

The Pediatric Office for Improvement Science was established with the goal of improving patient outcomes for children throughout Alabama. POISE achieves this by fostering collaboration among departmental resources and divisional stakeholders, providing educational and training opportunities and employing the principles of improvement science to enhance the quality of care. In partnership with Children’s of Alabama Performance Improvement Department, the office focuses on departmental priorities, promoting divisional alignment and cultivating the next generation of improvement scientists. LEADERSHIP Sam Gentle, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, leads outcome-centered quality-improvement initiatives, including oxygen saturation histogram analysis and standardizing ventilator

Sam Gentle, M.D.

Adolfo Molina, M.D.

weaning for preterm infants. He also plays a pivotal role in statewide initiatives through his role as the Neonatal Lead for the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative, having recently led an initiative to improve care in infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Adolfo Molina, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, holds a master’s in healthcare quality and safety and is dedicated to enhancing the care provided to hospitalized patients. His efforts encompass improving food insecurity screening and resources for food-insecure families. Dr. Molina also serves as the Director of Quality Improvement (QI) for the UAB Pediatric Residency Program. QI OFFICERS POISE QI officers are experienced leaders in quality improvement within the UAB Department of Pediatrics who play a vital role in expanding the department’s QI capacity through education, coaching and data analysis. Their commitment extends beyond their subspecialties, benefitting both academic productivity and MOC IV certification of existing projects.

Amy CaJacob, M.D.

Nicholas CaJacob, M.D.

David Galloway, M.D.

Rachel Kassel, M.D.

Jeremy Loberger, M.D.

Ashley Moellinger, NP

Jessica Schmitt, M.D.

Emily Smitherman, M.D.

RECENT QI ACHIEVEMENTS POISE is proud to highlight recent achievements, including Fellow QI Achievement Awards:

Dr. John Bridges initiated the Bridge to Adult Care from Childhood for Young Adults with Rheumatic Disease Program (BACC YARD), leading to earlier transitions between pediatric and adult rheumatology care. Dr. Meghan Harrison spearheaded a multidisciplinary effort to improve early discharges, aligning with COA goals for throughput, and continues to make progress in our complex medical care program. PROJECT SPOTLIGHT IMPROVING SURVIVAL WITHOUT BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA IN EXTREMELY PRETERM INFANTS This project addresses the challenge of integrating evidence-based care into the respiratory management of infants born extremely preterm. The primary focus of this initiative directs efforts toward the avoidance of invasive ventilation and optimization of noninvasive ventilation. By reducing invasive mechanical ventilation exposure, the initiative achieved its SMART aim of decreasing the proportion of preterm infants <29 weeks’ gestation with death or BPD by >20% within 12 months. RESIDENT-LED QUALITY-IMPROVEMENT APPROACH TO ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY Alabama ranks among the most food-insecure states, with a prevalence of 13% to 15%, and food insecurity (FI) is associated with worse healthcare outcomes. In 2020, screening for FI among hospitalized patients began. Initial screening data yielded a mean positive screening rate of 3%, much lower than published rates in the community. The project’s smart aim is to increase positive FI screening at the hospital from 3% to 10% by June 2023.

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