Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 2 , Pages 198-204, August 2009

A Statewide Model Program to Improve Emergency Department Readiness for Pediatric Care

  • Mark E. Cichon, DO

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery–EMS, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
    • ,
  • Susan Fuchs, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Evelyn Lyons, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Emergency Medical Services, Illinois Department of Public Health, Maywood, IL
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: Evelyn Lyons, RN MPH, c/o Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Avenue, Bldg 110, Room 0244, Maywood, IL 60153; 708-327-2557, fax 708-327-2548
    • ,
  • Daniel Leonard, MS, MCP

      Affiliations

    • Emergency Medical Services, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL

Received 15 February 2008; received in revised form 18 July 2008, 12 November 2008 and 22 December 2008; accepted 30 December 2008. published online 02 February 2009.

Pediatric emergency patients have unique needs, requiring specialized personnel, training, equipment, supplies, and medications. Deficiencies in these areas have resulted in historically poorer outcomes for pediatric patients versus adults. Since 1985, federally funded Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) programs in each state have been working to improve the quality of pediatric emergency care. The Health Resources and Services Administration now requires that all EMSC grantees report on specific performance measures. This includes implementation of a standardized system recognizing hospitals that are able to stabilize or manage pediatric medical emergencies and trauma cases. We describe the steps involved in implementing Illinois' 3-level facility recognition process to illustrate a model that other states might use to provide appropriate pediatric care and comply with new Health Resources and Services Administration performance measures.

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 Supervising editor: Kathy N. Shaw, MD, MSCE

 Funding and support: By Annals policy, all authors are required to disclose any and all commercial, financial, and other relationships in any way related to the subject of this article that might create any potential conflict of interest. See the Manuscript Submission Agreement in this issue for examples of specific conflicts covered by this statement. Illinois EMSC is a collaborative program between the Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Medical Center and receives federal funding through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant.

 Publication dates: Available online February 1, 2009.

PII: S0196-0644(08)02190-2

doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.12.030

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 2 , Pages 198-204, August 2009

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