Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators

Analysis of Pediatric Readiness assessment data validated that having pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECC) in an emergency department (ED) increased the likelihood of emergency department readiness for children. According to a recently released article by Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, "The presence of physician and nurse PECCs was associated with a higher adjusted median pediatric readiness scores (82.2) compared with no PECC (66.5) across all pediatric volume categories. The presence of PECCs increased the likelihood of having all the recommended components, including a pediatric quality improvement process."1

To illustrate the important role PECCs play, a webinar was held on September 21: Is Your ED Ready for Children? Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators Lead the Way to Readiness! This webinar shared data supporting the need for PECCs, as well as strategies employed to identify and assure availability of PECCs in the EDs of a large hospital system. Finally, a physician and nurse PECC discussed challenges encountered and opportunities to improve pediatric readiness in their ED.

Presenters included: Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, primary investigator and leader of the National Pediatric Readiness Project; Susan Cadwell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director, ED Initiative Clinical Services Group, Health Care Corporation of America; Leslie Flament MS, RN, clinician IV pediatric quality coordinator, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital; and Dale Woolridge, MD, PhD, professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona.

1. A National Assessment of Pediatric Readiness of Emergency Departments. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(6):527-534. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.138.