Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Pediatric Preanesthesia Assessment Electronic Triage Tool: Implementation, Quality Improvement, and Retrospective Observational Evaluation of a Patient‐Administered Questionnaire
Authors' conclusion
The PAC-Q is a scalable, patient-centered digital tool that standardizes pediatric preanesthesia triage, reduces unnecessary visits, and improves screening uptake.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric patients undergoing preanesthesia assessmentcompleted the PAC-Q
- Participants
- 3,993 patients
- Exposure
- Before vs after PAC-Q implementation
- April-June 2023n = 1,659reference
- April-June 2025n = 1,802
- Outcome
- Triage disposition of PAC-Q completers
- Follow-up
- By August 31, 2025
Methodological detailsstaggered implementation across surgical services, EHR-integrated (Epic, MyChart), 28-item PAC-Q via MyChart; responses weighted (0, 1, or 100) to a triage score that, with surgical risk, routed patients to RN, NP or MD, Adoption and outcomes monitored via Epic dashboards and Power BI
- Staggered implementation across surgical services
- EHR-integrated (Epic, MyChart)
- 28-item PAC-Q via MyChart; responses weighted (0, 1, or 100) to a triage score that, with surgical risk, routed patients to RN, NP or MD
- Adoption and outcomes monitored via Epic dashboards and Power BI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Triaged to RN
53.7%
2144/3993
Triaged to NP
12.3%
492/3993
Triaged to MD
6.8%
272/3993
Cleared by chart review without further consultation
27.1%
1083/3993
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Triage routing of PAC-Q completers · By August 31, 2025
- Triaged to an RN
- 53.7% (2144/3993)
- Triaged to an NP
- 12.3% (492/3993)
- Triaged to an MD
- 6.8% (272/3993)
- Cleared by chart review without further consultation
- 27.1% (1083/3993)
Completed preanesthesia assessments, otolaryngology (subgroup)
- Otolaryngology completion before (from)
- 22.9% (65/284)
- Otolaryngology completion after (to)
- 82.7% (230/278)
- Chi-square test
- χ2 = 199.37, p < 0.0001
Provider and family satisfaction, administrative burden
- Providers and families reported high satisfaction and reductions in administrative burden
Original publication
Pediatric Preanesthesia Assessment Electronic Triage Tool: Implementation, Quality Improvement, and Retrospective Observational Evaluation of a Patient‐Administered Questionnaire. Paediatr Anaesth. Published 24 April 2026. doi:10.
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