Access for All
Breaking Barriers, Expanding Care
Access to healthcare should never be a challenge. By developing new solutions and improving existing systems, we’re making it easier for families to connect with the care they need. Every effort brings us closer to a future where high-quality healthcare is within reach for every child who needs it. In this section, we'll explore some of the highlights from our efforts to reach more families.
Breaking the Mold: Partnering with the 3D Print Lab to Improve Hearing Healthcare
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Division of Audiology has teamed up with Cincinnati Children’s Digital Experience Technologies (DX Technologies) team to revolutionize access to hearing healthcare for children by producing earmolds in-house.
Led by Maggie Kettler, AuD, senior clinical director, Division of Audiology, this project was started to improve outcomes and access for our patients. Access has always been a priority for the Division of Audiology, and producing earmolds internally reduces the time that patients are without hearing devices. In partnership with DX Technologies developers Matt Batie and Xander Morningstar, this project is transforming how custom ear molds—critical for children with hearing aids—are produced and delivered, bringing significant benefits to both patients and the organization.
By producing these molds in-house, Cincinnati Children’s Audiology has dramatically reduced the time it takes to get children fitted with new ear molds, cutting the turnaround from up to six weeks to just a few days. This means children aren’t left waiting without access to sound, and families no longer face extended delays in care. Additionally, this internal production model reduces costs, easing the financial burden on both families and the health system.
Cincinnati Children’s is the second pediatric health system to successfully implement in-house 3D printed ear molds, but at a much larger scale than the first. The team is now leading the way in this field, sharing their expertise with other children’s hospitals across the country that are eager to replicate this success.
The need for custom ear molds is especially crucial for young children, who require new molds frequently due to the rapid growth of their ears. In the first year of life, infants may need up to six sets of molds, and they continue to need replacements two times a year for the next few years, eventually tapering to annual replacements. Previously, these molds were ordered from external vendors, resulting in long wait times and higher costs for families and the health system.
As an added bonus, internal production allows children to customize the colors of their ear molds, adding a personal touch to something so essential in their daily lives.
With their eyes on the future, the team continues to explore ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible in hearing healthcare.
Opening New Doors: Celebrating the Eden Park Expansion
In December 2024, leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new Eden Park outpatient surgery center. A few days later, on Dec. 9, the facility officially opened its doors to patients.
Cincinnati Children’s acquired the medical building, which is adjacent to Eden Park, in May 2024. It includes three operating rooms and 10 prep/recovery rooms to help meet a significant increase in demand for pediatric surgical procedures.
The Eden Park location is expected to improve access for patients who undergo procedures that don’t require hospitalization. Surgical specialties available include:
- Dermatology
- ENT
- General pediatric surgery
- Opthomology
- Orthopaedics
- Plastics
- Pain Management
- Pre-anesthesia assessment (SHOPPE)
- Urology
Each year, we have over 1.7 million patient encounters, which includes about 40,000 surgical procedures. In the last year, the number of surgeries performed increased by 8%. This new space is part of our plan to add operating rooms to meet this increased demand.
"The new Eden Park Surgery Center marks a significant step for Cincinnati Children's with access to high-quality and convenient surgical care. Emphasis is placed on creating a patient and family centered surgical care environment that will enhance the patient's experience, expedite scheduling of procedures, and reduce time spent within the facility," said Megan Sandlin, MSN, RN, CNOR, clinical director of Perioperative Services.
How The Mobile Care Center Is Transforming Access For Rural Families
When the Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing Services (PATS), formerly known as the Penicillin Allergy Testing Service, launched in January 2020, Kimberley Risma, MD, PhD, professor, Division of Allergy and Immunology, envisioned bringing proactive de-labeling efforts to more communities through the Mobile Care Center.
However, it wasn’t until Tricia Earl, MSN, RN II in Ambulatory Services – Allergy and Immunology, experienced what she calls “proximity compassion” that the importance of the Mobile Care Center truly came into focus. Participating in the Adams County Health Fair in August 2023, she gained firsthand insight into the challenges faced by families in rural areas. After enduring an hour-plus commute to the event herself, she found herself engaging in some of the most eye-opening and heartfelt conversations with local caregivers, children and community members.
“Families spoke openly about their concerns and experiences,” Tricia reflected. “What stood out to me was their shared desire to provide the best for their children by accessing quality healthcare and education.” This perspective underscored her mission and fueled her dedication to increasing healthcare access for underserved communities.
Thanks to Becky Taylor, an Outpatient Services operations manager, who facilitated connections with West Clermont High School, PATS conducted its first Mobile Care Center there on Aug. 5, 2024. This “maiden voyage” was specifically designed to serve patients on the east side of Clermont County and Adams County.
For one Adams County family, the Mobile Care Center represented more than just convenience. While the clinic reduced their travel time by more than 20 minutes each way, the mother revealed that she had never driven to the “big city” before and found the idea intimidating. During their appointment, the family was able to relax in an environment that felt welcoming and safe, with ease of check-in and an atmosphere designed to put patients at ease—even featuring a game of ping pong.
For this mother, access to healthcare was not just about securing an appointment; it was also about proximity, a comfortable environment, and a process free of unnecessary stress. At the end of their visit, she shared her gratitude for the experience, praising the clinic’s thoughtful design and its impact on her family.
Small Team, Big Impact: PFCs and How They Keep Us Afloat
At Cincinnati Children’s, efficient management of patient flow and transfers is essential for delivering high-quality care. Our Patient Flow Coordinators (PFCs) are at the heart of this effort, ensuring smooth operations and improved patient outcomes. Their diverse roles and recent accomplishments highlight their critical impact on our health system’s success.
Over the past year, these various teams, comprised of PFCs, Admission Transfer Center Nurses (ATCs), Flow Liaison Nurses (FLNs), and Pre-arrival Nurses (Pa-RNs), have achieved significant milestones, underscoring their crucial role in enhancing health system operations.
Following the launch of the Admission and Transfer Center in October 2022, the PFC team swiftly adapted to new systems and workflows. Within weeks, this group of 18 nurses mastered a new phone system, updated workflows and the EPIC module specific to this center, showcasing their remarkable agility and expertise.
Their contributions extended to developing and implementing new protocols for complex cases. They co-created direct admission protocols, including the CBDI Fever and DKA protocols, which have streamlined patient placement and improved efficiency. The PFC team also excelled in managing high census situations, effectively navigating surges in mental health cases and refining the processes for transitioning patients from the ED to inpatient care.
In pursuit of their Wildly Important Goal (WIG), the team focused on reducing the time from ED disposition to bed pre-assignment. This effort has markedly enhanced patient flow efficiency across the health system. They also played a key role in developing system-level dashboards, which provide better capacity monitoring and management.
Furthermore, the introduction of the Flow Liaison Nurse role allowed the team to proactively address and communicate capacity challenges, ensuring smoother operations. Their involvement in creating a physical command center through site visits and design sessions has also been instrumental in improving operational oversight and responsiveness.
As you can see, the impact of these teams is profound. Their dedication not only ensures that Cincinnati Children’s operates efficiently but also allows clinical teams to concentrate on delivering exceptional care.
Key Roles of Patient Flow Coordinators: PFCs are the cornerstone of bed management and patient placement. They meticulously review clinical data for every admitted patient, whether coming from the ED, PACU, OR or other internal transfers. Their responsibilities include:
- Determining Level of Care: PFCs assess patient needs to ensure they are placed in the appropriate bed with the necessary level of care.
- System Management: Using the ADT EPIC system, PFCs assign encounter and visit type for all admissions and status upgrades.
- Coordination: PFCs collaborate with various departments, such as Environmental Services (EVS) and the ICU, to facilitate patient movement and create capacity.
- Monitoring & Communication: PFCs work to identify and address bottlenecks in patient flow, anticipating needs for admissions and discharges, and relieving pressure from overburdened units.
In addition to the dedicated work of PFCs, several other key roles support and enhance operations. These clinicians collaborate closely to ensure every aspect of patient flow and transfer runs smoothly. Here’s a breakdown of their essential contributions:
- Admission Transfer Center Nurses (ATCs) and Financial Authorization Team: Coordinate all transfers for patients admitted into Cincinnati Children’s (including direct transfers and from hospital-to-hospital). Manage communications and documentation between sending and accepting doctors in EPIC. Collaborate with the Transport Team and Financial Authorizations.
- Flow Liaison Nurses (FLNs): Act as a charge nurse for the PFC team, ensuring overall patient flow efficiency. Collaborate with ED, PACU and unit charge nurses to address flow challenges. Manage system capacity issues and improve discharge processes by prioritizing daily tasks.
- Pre-Arrival Nurses (Pa-RNs): Facilitate smooth transitions for patients moving to Cincinnati Children’s by coordinating with providers, care managers and families.
- Transfer Center/Patient Flow/Command Center Manager: Manage daily operations and support the PFC/ATC RN team. Monitor the effectiveness of workflows, provide feedback and initiate process modifications.
- Transfer Center/Patient Flow/MPS/Command Center Director: Oversee the development and implementation of strategies for patient flow and transfer management. Ensure quality, efficiency and functional excellence across teams. Address system challenges, participate in decision-making, and design strategies for achieving departmental goals.