Kids Health Alliance

Kids Health Alliance (KHA) is a network of community partners committed to advancing excellence and expertise in paediatric care across Ontario. In partnership with SimKIDS, The Hospital for Sick Children, Kids Health Alliance recently facilitated in-situ simulations with hospital partners around the emergency management of Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes wherein the body cannot produce enough insulin. These sessions allow teams to simulate the use of suggested policies, procedures, and equipment to achieve universal standard of care for DKA patients, while also identifying other potential opportunities to improve that care. Thanks to the generosity of donors like BMO, KHA and its partners have actively pursued its mission of sharing paediatric expertise and learning between academic children’s hospitals and community hospitals, enhancing the care provided to children across our communities. For more information about Kids Health Alliance: https://bit.ly/3X5LXLM

Yesterday, we had the honour of welcoming Kids Health Alliance and SimKIDS, The Hospital for Sick Children'. This is the second of five hospital visits planned over the next six weeks. Together, we're committed to elevating paediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) care through immersive simulations and collaborative teamwork. #KidsHealthAlliance #PaediatricHealth

🔍 Earlier this week, the Kids Health Alliance (KHA) and our SimKIDS' team gathered at Michael Garron Hospital for another milestone in our collaborative journey. This marks the first of five hospital visits scheduled over the next six weeks, where we aim to advance paediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) care through hands-on simulations and interdisciplinary teamwork. 👥 Collaboration Context: In March 2023, KHA Community Hospital Partners embarked on a mission to enhance the recognition and management of pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in Emergency Departments (EDs) by implementing best practices based on TREKK’s DKA Algorithm and recommendations. After virtual simulations in early 2023 enabled partners to understand their current practices and identify opportunities for improvement, KHA continued to support partners throughout 2023 with education, toolkits, and forums to foster collective success. 🔄 Continued Support: After years of collaborating virtually, this event marks a significant milestone as KHA returns to facilitating In-Situ simulations, allowing partners to test local policies, procedures, equipment, and spaces. This hands-on approach aims to gauge progress in paediatric DKA care and pinpoint areas for further refinement, ensuring sustained excellence in patient care. 🎯 Simulation Learning Objectives: Our primary goal is to advance interprofessional care by strengthening collaboration and communication among teams, ultimately enhancing pediatric DKA patient outcomes. We aim to identify systemic opportunities for improvement and innovation in pediatric DKA care, ensuring that our practices align with the highest standards. By creating a safe environment for healthcare professionals, we provide a realistic setting to identify barriers in DKA identification and management, fostering continuous improvement. This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to paediatric patient care excellence. Stay tuned for updates as we travel to other hospitals in the coming weeks.