Tuesday 10 March 2026 | 11:00-12:00
Stream: Safety
Session format: Presentation
Chair: Katrine Kirk

Revolutionising penicillin allergy de-labelling: scaling impact with the Sprint Quality Improvement Method, an adapted breakthrough series model

Penicillin allergy labels are inaccurate in over 90% of patients, contributing to antimicrobial resistance, increased healthcare costs, and suboptimal patient care. Our team led a province-wide penicillin allergy de-labeling initiative across British Columbia using the Sprint QI method to rapidly spread change. This time-boxed, collaborative approach accelerated implementation of oral challenge protocols, EMR tools, and standardized patient education materials across 21 sites within 12 months. The Sprint aimed to accelerate spread, strengthen peer connections across diverse care settings, and build sustainable tools and resources. What began with 9 teams grew to 21 during the Sprint - with more joining after its conclusion, totaling over 25 teams province-wide.

Attendees will gain insight into real-world successes and challenges - particularly around spreading change across varied healthcare environments.

Why attend? Participants will leave with actionable strategies to accelerate innovation, support system-level change, and apply lessons to local QI efforts.

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe how proactive penicillin allergy de-labeling improves patient outcomes and system-level costs.
• Understand how the innovative Sprint method accelerates spread of quality improvement initiatives across varied healthcare environments.
• Appreciate the development of novel tools and resources for implementing penicillin allergy de-labeling in a scalable, flexible fashion.
  Appreciate the critical importance of patient involvement in co-designing a curriculum and resources designed to empower patients and families.
  

Tiffany Wong Investigator, BC Children's Hospital; Canada