When a child has a medical emergency, every second counts. While most emergency departments (EDs) are well-equipped to handle adult cases, a child’s unique physical and emotional needs require a specialized level of care. Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services for Children (WI EMSC) is focusing on expanding its recognition program to make sure all hospitals statewide are prepared to provide high-quality emergency care to children. This program is a critical step in addressing gaps in pediatric emergency care and raising the standard in all Wisconsin communities.

Saving lives and better outcomes
WI EMSC’s ED Facility Recognition Program is built on national data and evidence that proves a direct link between pediatric readiness and better patient outcomes. The National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP), a national quality improvement initiative, has consistently shown that hospitals with higher pediatric readiness scores have lower death rates for critically ill and injured children. Hospitals with a high level of pediatric readiness were associated with a 60% to 76% lower short-term death rate for children1.

The WI EMSC ED Facility Recognition Program endorses EDs as being pediatric ready after completion of a full review process, requiring all hospitals to meet the following:

  • Administrator support letter
  • Disaster plan which addresses pediatric patients and includes the seven components identified in the Pediatric Readiness Assessment
  • Minimum score of 80 out of 100 on the Pediatric Readiness Assessment
  • Nurse Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator
  • Physician Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator
  • Record pediatric patients’ weights in kilograms only
  • Weigh pediatric patients in kilograms only
  • Written pediatric interfacility transfer guidelines, which include the eight components identified in the Pediatric Readiness Assessment
  • Written pediatric interfacility transfer agreements

Work with us
If your ED is interested in becoming pediatric ready, complete the Emergency Department Facility Recognition Program interest form to connect with us!

For more information, visit our Emergency Department Readiness  webpage or email EMSC Program Leader, Carissa Brunner, MPH, CLC at cbrunner@childrenswi.org.

References

  1. Newgard CD, Lin A, Malveau S, et al. Emergency Department Pediatric Readiness and Short-term and Long-term Mortality Among Children Receiving Emergency Care. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(1):e2250941. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.50941

Written by:
Carissa Brunner, MPH, CLC
Program Leader – Emergency Care