Joint Policy Statement and Technical Report Published January 2020
Background
Historically, pediatric patients account for only 5 to 10 percent of all EMS incidents. However, treating injured or sick children can make even experienced EMS providers more anxious, especially if they have not seen many pediatric patients, or have not had recent hands‐on training. The KY EMS for Children Program, housed in the KY Board of EMS is working with the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Government to improve pediatric emergency care.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report “Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains” recommends that EMS agencies and emergency departments (EDs) appoint a pediatric emergency care coordinator to provide pediatric leadership for the organization. This individual need not be dedicated solely to this role and could be personnel already in place with a special interest in children who assumes this role as part of their existing duties.
The IOM report further states that pediatric coordinators are necessary to advocate for improved competencies and the availability of resources for pediatric patients. The presence of an individual who coordinates pediatric emergency care at EMS agencies ensures that the agency and its providers are better prepared to care for ill and injured children.
New performance measures for the national EMS for Children program focus on local delivery of care, including the creation or assignment of a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) at the EMS agency level to ensure quality pediatric care from every EMS agency. The goal of the measure is to increase the percentage of EMS agencies in the state that have a designated individual who coordinates pediatric emergency care.
Some of the roles that the individual who coordinates pediatric emergency care might oversee at an EMS agency
include:
- Serving as the initial point of contact between the KYEMSC Program and the agency.
- Promoting pediatric continuing-education opportunities.
- Advocating for the availability of pediatric medications, equipment, and supplies.
- Encouraging pediatric simulation/hands-on pediatric skills assessment.
- Collaborating with other ED and EMS PECCs.
- Promoting agency participation in pediatric-prevention programs and community outreach.
- Engaging in quality improvement activities.
- Promoting family-centered care at the agency.
The EMS PEC Coordinator should have the following qualifications:
- Is a paramedic or EMT who possesses special interest, knowledge, and skill in the emergency medical care of
- children as demonstrated by training, clinical experience, or focused pediatric continuing education.
- Maintains competency in pediatric emergency care.
- May be a staff person who is currently assigned other roles in the department such as a training officer or
- educator, field supervisor, or working on quality improvement and public education projects.
- Instructor credentials in pediatric specific topics or courses is recommended.
Agency directors may use this form to designate the PECC:
The two lists above are not mandatory or all-inclusive. These are suggestions and should not deter agencies or individuals from participating out of fear of not meeting some of the bullet points. The most important factors for a successful PEC Coordinator is the desire to improve pediatric care and a willingness to engage in information sharing. Start with the first steps and we will work toward improvement together!
EMS Webinars
These webinars will be open to all frontline EMS staff. Our program can only provide Kentucky approved continuing education credit, but providers licensed in other states (particularly in our border areas) are still welcome to attend but will need to work with their home state to determine if the course will be accepted for credit. The content for this category is more likely to be clinical or operational information directly applicable to those in the field.
Archived Presentations (recordings available to PECCs)
-
Vaping Related Lung Injury: Still Relevant in the COVID Era
- Dr. Scott Bickel, Pediatric Pulmonology
- Recorded October 6, 2020
-
Let's Get Serious About Patient Safety in EMS
- Scott Bourn, PhD, Securisyn Medical, ESO Solutions, and NAEMSP
- Recorded August 14, 2020
-
Too Hot to Handle: Acute Burn Care Management
- Debbie Harrell, MSN, Shriner's Hospital for Children
- Recorded July 28, 2020
-
Supporting Children and Families In the Midst of a Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Care Approach
- Meghan Marsac, PhD, University of Kentucky
- Recorded July 16, 2020
Resources
Identifying Abuse - Univeristy of Colorado, individual online CE credit, receive a KY specific certificate when you include your KY credentials in creating your account. This does not fulfill KY PAHT requirements but it is good companion course to the required training/
References
For additional information, contact Morgan Scaggs, 502-764-1508,
morgan.scaggs@ky.gov