Evidence-Based Standardization of Constipation Management in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Study

Background Constipation is a common problem in pediatric patients. Abdominal radiographs (AXRs) are frequently obtained in the pediatric emergency department (PED) for diagnosis despite their poor reliability to rule out underlying pathology or prognostic ability to determine the degree of constipation. The goal of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was to standardize the diagnosis and management of constipation in the PED and Urgent Care (UC) in patients ages 6 months to 21 years as well as to decrease AXR use. Methodology This prospective QI project involved a multidisciplinary team at a large urban …