Seamless care: Changing the approach to caring for children suffering from anaphylaxis

Abstract

The development and implementation of a clinical practice guideline based on the seamless care model is presented. Developed at Kidz First Children's Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, the guideline deals with the prescription of epi‐pens to children who have experienced an anaphylactic reaction. Traditionally, epi‐pen prescription and follow‐up support have been fragmented, with responsibility spread across a range of service providers, each operating largely on its own. To address this issue, the seamless care model has been used to establish a fully integrated care delivery system that facilitates a smooth transition from acute to community‐based care. This development serves to demonstrate how seamless care can facilitate practice development and organisational change, as well as enhancing child and family health outcomes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Son, Ltd.