Testing the Consensus-Based Emergency Information Form

Abstract

* Abbreviations: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics CSHCN — : children with special health care needs EHR — : electronic health record EIF — : emergency information form PHR — : personal health record In the current issue of Pediatrics , an innovative article by Abraham et al1, “Impact of emergency information forms for children with medical complexity: a simulation study” presents an excellent example of the use of emergency scenarios to study otherwise difficult-to-observe events in emergency and critical care; specifically, emergencies of medically complex children. The emergency information form (EIF) organizes emergency-focused medical information for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Before the advent of electronic health records (EHRs) in the 1990s, the EIF began as sets of wallet cards promoted by state Emergency Medical Services for Children Programs in New Mexico and Ohio that listed medications and diagnoses. This was carried forward by Sacchetti and Gerardi who created a concise 1-page paper summary with a unique added focus of an advice section that listed a child’s special problem, emergencies likely to arise from this problem, and recommended treatments.2 In the initial joint American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American College of Emergency Physician Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine policy statement, “Emergency Preparedness for CSHCN”, it is recommended that primary and specialty caregivers join with the … Address correspondence to Lee. A. Pyles, MD, MS, Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Dr, Box 9214, Morgantown, WV 26506. E-mail: lpyles{at}hsc.wvu.edu