Improving communication systems for pediatric patient safety
Official title: Resilient Communication Systems: A Pediatric Patient Safety Learning Lab
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11087616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making sure doctors and nurses talk to each other better in hospitals to keep kids safe while they're being treated, and it will involve families and healthcare workers working together to find the best ways to improve communication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $496,482 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS029473-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11087616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are hospitalized children who may be affected by communication breakdowns in their care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not hospitalized or those receiving outpatient care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance communication among healthcare providers in pediatric acute care settings to reduce safety events for hospitalized children. By establishing a Pediatric Patient Safety Learning Lab, a multidisciplinary team will evaluate and improve how nurses and physicians communicate using modern technologies. The project will involve input from clinicians and families to ensure that changes positively impact patient care. A systems engineering approach will be employed to analyze and redesign communication workflows.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of safety events in hospitalized children by improving communication among healthcare providers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving communication systems in healthcare can lead to better patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ruppel, Halley — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Ruppel, Halley
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.