Overall State of Pediatric Readiness in U.S. Improved Over the Past 10 Years, but Gaps Remain

Abstract

Overall pediatric readiness has improved over the last 10 years, but many U.S. EDs lack equipment and pediatric specific training for healthcare providers. OVER THE LAST two decades, U.S. researchers have focused on improving pediatric readiness for children in emergency care settings. Last month researchers from the National Pediatric Readiness Project updated a 2006 report assessing the pediatric readiness of U.S. emergency departments (ED) (Gausche-Hill et al., 2015). The study is important because it provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive evaluation of pediatric readiness of U.S. EDs. The current report found that overall pediatric readiness had improved over the last 10 years, but that many U.S. EDs continue to lack pediatric equipment and pediatric-specific training for healthcare workers. To assess pediatric readiness the researchers used a weighted 55 question Web-based survey based on the guidelines for care of children in EDs issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Emergency Nurses Association (2009). Previous reports had showed relatively poor, uneven compliance with the guidelines. The investigators assessed pediatric readiness, including physician/nurse training, quality of improvement activities, patient safety initiatives, policies and procedures, availability of equipment and disaster planning. Of the 4,137 assessments completed (83% response rate) in 2013, there was a median score of 69 on the 100-point weighted pediatric readiness score (WPRS) scale, an increase from a median of 55 in 2003. The researchers found a correlation between the WPRS scores and the annual volume of pediatric patients. Hospitals with less than 1,800 pediatric patients a year had a