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Pediatric readiness making headlines

MedPage Today published a joint op-ed from AAP, ACEP, and ENA this month about the need for more investment in and attention to pediatric readiness. Pediatric readiness was also highlighted in a Wall Street Journal podcast and on CBS Evening News.

Evaluating pediatric readiness in EDs

Do you work in an emergency department (ED) or are a program manager looking to improve pediatric readiness in your state? EDs can evaluate their pediatric readiness in three easy steps:

1. Take the National Pediatric Readiness Project open assessment at PedsReady.org, available outside of the national assessment period for ED’s internal use.
2. Print or save the gap report summary that appears on the screen.
3. Use the report to identify gaps and work with your ED toward improvement.

The gap report summary is accepted for American College of Surgeons Trauma Center Verification where applicable. If you have questions about the assessment or would like more information, email PedsReady@hsc.utah.edu or visit PediatricReadiness.org.

Patient and Family Perspectives

Featuring members of EMSC’s

Family Advisory Network (FAN).

Name: Melanie Marshall, MSN, RN, NR-EMT, NCSN, NHDPBC

State/Territory: Delaware

Why did you become a FAN? “Simply, because someone asked and believed in me. We all have the capacity for good and service. Whether it be as a vocal advocate, such as with EMSC, or holding someone's hand in support during a difficult time.” Read more.

Resources Round-Up:

Condition-specific resources:

• AAP: Supporting the Family After the Death of a Child or Adolescent
• AAP: Reflections on COVID-19: Living and Learning in a Pandemic
• EMSC: SAVE-PEDS pediatric resuscitation course (log-in required)
• WRAP-EM: Pediatric Surge Playbook

EMSC grantee resources:

• UPDATED: EMSC Performance Measures manual
• EMSC Program two-page overview
• EMSC Hospital Recognition program webpage
• Pediatric readiness FAQs for EDs
• HRSA: EMSC Town Hall Recording

Other resources:

• PPN: Mental Health Resources in Response to Armed Conflict
• PPN: Resource Central

Upcoming Events:

• ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program conference - Dec. 1-3
• AAP Council on Children and Disasters Special Interest Group: Hospital Director Disaster Management - Dec. 5 12 pm CT
• Pediatric Pandemic Network Town Hall - Dec. 5 2pm ET
• Federal Interagency Committee on EMS Virtual Meeting - Dec. 6 1pm ET
• AAP Practical Applications of Generative AI for Pediatricians and Pediatric Specialists webinar - Dec. 12 and Jan. 11
• NAEMSP Annual Meeting - Jan. 8-13
• ACEP/EMBC Independent EM Group Master Class - Feb. 6-8
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Conference - March 13-16
• National Association of County and City Health Officials 2024 Preparedness Summit - March 25-28
• Pediatric Academic Societies 2024 - May 2-6
• NASEMSO Annual Meeting 2024 - May 12-16

Other Opportunities:

• The AAP Board of Directors is soliciting nominations from members of the Council on Children and Disasters to fill member vacancies for terms beginning July 1, 2024. Please refer to the statement of needs and application materials under “Committee Member Vacancies” on AAP.org. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 16.
• Request for Information: HHS Initiative to Enhance National All Hazards Hospital Situational Awareness
• EMSC has launched its first pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC) learning module: you are invited to view the module and provide feedback.

Research Highlights:

• Rehydration Rates and Outcomes in Overweight Children With Diabetic Ketoacidosis - AAP, Nov. 3*
• Pediatric Firearm Injury Emergency Department Visits From 2017 to 2022: A Multicenter Study - AAP, Nov. 6*
• Characteristics of Pediatric Behavioral Health Emergencies in the Prehospital Setting - Wiley Online Library, Nov. 10*
• Research Priorities for Pediatric Emergency Care to Address Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Language - JAMA Network Open, Nov. 13*
• Race, Ethnicity, Language, and the Treatment of Low-Risk Febrile Infants - JAMA Pediatrics, Nov. 13
• Setting an agenda for a national pediatric trauma system: Operationalization of the Pediatric Trauma State Assessment Score - J Trauma Acute Care Surg, Nov.16*
• Evaluation of Pediatric Readiness Using Simulation in General Emergency Departments in a Medically Underserved Region - Pediatr Emerg Care, Nov. 17*

Headline Highlights:

• The Youth Mental Health Emergency Isn’t Over. Government Must Act Now. - US News, Oct. 19
• CCH EMS receives new, state-funded sensory kits following push from local nonprofit - County 17, Oct. 25*
• There’s a Shortage of RSV Treatments. Here’s What Doctors Recommend - TIME, Nov. 2
• Child Deaths From Guns After Arrival In Pediatric ERs Doubled In Pandemic - Forbes, Nov. 6* (also covered in TIME magazine and CNN)
• Utah paramedic uses personal experience to create autism kits for ambulances - EMS1, Nov. 11*
• ​​More than 1 in 10 pediatric ambulance runs are for mental health emergencies, finds study - MedicalXpress, Nov. 16*

Share your story! We're looking for patient and provider stories about children's health care needs in everyday emergencies and disasters. Your story is vital to help us raise awareness about the need to improve outcomes for children. Learn more and share your story here.

Have news, resources, or events to share? Want to make sure a research paper or award recipient is mentioned? Email us!

EMSC grantees are welcomed to repurpose newsletter content.

The EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award (U07MC37471) totaling $2.5M with 0 percent financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, visit hrsa.gov.

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