TY - JOUR AU - Sambeeck, Sam J. van; Fuijkschot, Joris; Kramer, Boris W.; Vos, Gijs D. TI - Pediatric Early Warning System Scores: Lessons to be Learned SN - 2146-4618 SN - 2146-4626 PY - 2018 JO - J Pediatr Intensive Care JF - Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care LA - EN VL - 07 IS - 01 SP - 027 EP - 032 ET - 2017/05/03 DA - 2018/02/09 KW - pediatric early warning system KW - implementation KW - validation KW - safety management system KW - pediatric department AB - The objective was to evaluate the use of a pediatric early warning system (PEWS) score in Dutch general and university hospitals, 4 years after the introduction of a national safety program in which the implementation of a PEWS was advised. An electronic cross-sectional survey was used. All general and university hospitals (nā€‰=ā€‰91) with a pediatric department in The Netherlands were included in the study. The response rate was 100%. Three-quarters of all Dutch hospitals were using a PEWS score in the pediatric department. A wide variation in the parameters was found leading to 45 different PEWS scores. Almost all PEWS scores were invalidated, self-designed, or modified from other PEWS scores. In one-third of the hospitals with an emergency room, a PEWS was used with a wide variation in the parameters leading to 20 different PEWS scores, the majority of which are invalidated. Three-quarters of the hospitals did implement a PEWS score. The majority implemented an invalidated PEWS score. This may lead to a false sense of security or even a potentially dangerous situation. Although these systems are intuitively experienced as useful, the scientific evidence in terms of hospital mortality reduction and patient safety improvement is lacking. It is recommended to establish a national working group to coordinate the development, validation, and implementation of a wide safety program and a PEWS usable for both general and university hospitals. PB - Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/s-0037-1602802 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0037-1602802 ER -