Understanding the Open vs. Nationwide Assessment

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The National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) Assessment is the primary tool used to understand and improve how emergency departments (EDs) across the United States are prepared to care for children. NPRP offers two ways to participate in the assessment:

  • The NPRP Nationwide Assessment, conducted once every five years, plays a critical role in advancing pediatric emergency care nationally. By joining in this assessment, EDs contribute to a large evidence base that enhances our understanding of progress and gaps, effective strategies for improvement, and impact on outcomes.

  • The NPRP Open Assessment complements this work by allowing EDs to assess their Pediatric Readiness on a flexible timeline, outside of the Nationwide Assessment.

  • Every ED open 24/7 should participate in the NPRP Nationwide Assessment. The NPRP Nationwide Assessment is a coordinated, country-wide effort conducted once every five years, during which EDs across the country complete the assessment during the same defined period of time.

  • The data collected through the nationwide assessment provides the only comprehensive, time-aligned picture of Pediatric Readiness in U.S. EDs. These data are used to study the relationship between readiness and patient outcomes, identify gaps in care, and determine which readiness elements and improvement strategies are most effective. Findings from the nationwide assessment inform research, national quality improvement initiatives, funding priorities, and policy efforts aimed at improving emergency care for children.

  • Participation in the nationwide assessment allows EDs to contribute to this shared national effort and helps shape the future direction of Pediatric Readiness across the country.
  • The NPRP Open Assessment allows EDs to complete the assessment at any time, outside of the nationwide assessment cycle. (EDs are encouraged to complete the assessment more often than nationwide periods, ideally once every 1-3 years.)

  • The open assessment option is designed to support local quality improvement and self-assessment. Results from this assessment pathway are intended primarily for local use and are not included in the coordinated national analyses conducted as part of the nationwide assessment.