The C-CHEWS tool has provided real-time trigger
responses which have activated necessary resources to
pediatric cardiovascular patients who are deteriorating on
the inpatient cardiac unit. Chart review of patients who have
had an unplanned transfer to the CICU or experienced an
arrest on the cardiac unit typically had elevated C-CHEWS
scores. The exception to this finding was patients who
experienced sudden onset of compromising arrhythmia. This
review suggests that the C-CHEWS may be effective in
identifying the majority of patients in the cardiovascular
pediatric population who are at risk for arrest or critical
adverse events earlier to allow for intervention and prevent
such events from occurring.
In addition, the hospital has been tracking unplanned
transfer events for several years as part of several quality
improvement initiatives. In comparing the rate (transfers per