Emergency Care of the Child

Abstract

Optimal emergency care of the child requires a well-developed EMS-C system. The components are easy to identify. We need macroregions with institutions acknowledging their institutional capabilities for pediatric emergency care and supporting field triage and transfer agreements. We need highly educated and skilled prehospital care providers, from emergency medical technicians in the field to air and ground transport services with specialized pediatric transport teams. In addition to having an appropriate hospital emergency department attending physician staff, hospitals must develop networks of cooperation between emergency departments appropriate for pediatrics and children's emergency care centers. These centers strive for quality care through systematic record keeping, chart reviews, and audits identifying care deficiencies and appropriate remedies. Subsequent reviews document improved care. There are meetings of prehospital and hospital-based providers to discuss the management of challenging cases. Comprehensive pediatric emergency care involves integration of emergency stabilization patient care with community and hospital social services, patient education programs (such as Child Life), and comprehensive rehabilitation programs, as well as community accident prevention and basic life support programs. As we strive to develop optimal emergency medical services for our country to best serve our people, comprehensive emergency care of children must have separate consideration from comprehensive emergency care of adults. If we are to assure optimal outcome for the life-threatened child, we need to continuously assess regional needs and capabilities and encourage optimal involvement of health care providers and institutions.