Quality improvement in pediatric urology-a historical perspective on street pumps, puerperal fever, surgical infection, and contemporary methodology

Fardod O'Kelly; Jessica H Hannick; Jesse Isaac Wolfstadt; Sarah E Ward; Martin A Koyle

doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.08.016

Quality improvement in pediatric urology-a historical perspective on street pumps, puerperal fever, surgical infection, and contemporary methodology

J Pediatr Urol. 2019 Oct;15(5):495-502. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.08.016. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Authors

Fardod O'Kelly¹, Jessica H Hannick², Jesse Isaac Wolfstadt³, Sarah E Ward⁴, Martin A Koyle⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Division of Pediatric Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Pediatric Urology, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA.
³ Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Division of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Division of Pediatric Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: martin.koyle@sickkids.ca.

PMID: 31630935
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2019.08.016

Abstract

Quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) can trace its origin back to the court of Hammurabi (circa 1700BC). However, it did not begin its evolution into its present methodology until the mid-19th century. It was through the application of quantitative parameters around the time of World War I that the field of QIPS has matured and gained a significant presence in the practice of medicine. Herein, the authors present a historical overview of this increasingly important field and correlate the current pediatric urology literature that has arisen from it. Because QIPS research is likely to contribute to efficient, streamlined health care through rapid changes to routine clinical practices, it would behoove pediatric urologists to familiarize themselves with its history and fundamental concepts.

Keywords: History; NSQIP; Patient safety; Pediatric urology; Quality improvement; SQUIRE.

Publication types

Historical Article

MeSH terms

Child
Fever
History, 19th Century
Humans
Pediatrics / standards*
Postpartum Period
Quality Improvement* / history
Surgical Wound Infection
Urology / standards*