Optimizing Pediatric Preoperative Experiences in the MRI

Problem: Over the past decade, the prevalence of children with sensory processing disorders has had a steep upward trend. Youth with hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity conditions often develop enhanced stress and anxiety during the pre-operative admission process in preparation for MRI procedures. Context: Specialized interventions and accommodations are a necessity for this population however, no preventative measures have been utilized within the outpatient surgical center. Interventions: Resources were created to better prepare patients and guardians for their MRI visits including: a Social Story Video, Picture & Activity Book, as well as an MRI Toolkit. In addition, a one hour staff inservice on Pediatric Situational Tactics was delivered to promote evidence based prevention and patient de-escalation techniques in the clinic. Measures: Surveys were periodically conducted to collect quantitative and qualitative data and assess the microsystem needs and the impact of intervention implementation. Results: Initial assessment revealed 100% of staff encountered patients with sensory needs at least once a month. 39% of staff report that time de-stimulating patients delays care for other patients. After the staff education, the team had 16% increase in confidence in caring for children with sensory disorders and 23% more nurses felt more comfortable with managing behavioral situations. Conclusion: The Pediatric MRI Optimization project is significant and requires further observation to ensure that the changes are maintained. Due to the constraints of time, not all of the interventions were properly evaluated for their effectiveness