November 4, 2024- Ascension is proud to announce that it has been awarded $2.5 million in funding support from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). With this funding through the Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII), Ascension will enhance antimicrobial prescribing practices for pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) across outpatient clinics, urgent care centers and emergency departments. This project will be led by Mohamad Fakih, MD, MPH, Chief Quality Officer of Ascension, and Allison Bollinger, MD, Vice President of Acute Clinical Care, Emergency Medicine, and Urgent Care.
Ascension’s work will focus on promoting appropriate antibiotic use for children aged 6 months to 17 years, improving clinical outcomes, and reducing the misuse of antibiotics. The initiative will span over more than 200 care sites across eight states, benefiting more than 200,000 pediatric encounters annually.