Trauma Care • EIIC

Trauma Care

Domain Leads:
Michael Dingeldein, MD
Lisa Gray, MHA, RN, CPN, TCRN
Aaron Jensen, MD, MEd, MS

Project Manager:
Bhavin Patel

A recent report highlights gaps in trauma care systems for children and introduces a novel scoring system, the Pediatric Trauma System Assessment Score.

More children die of injury each year than from all other causes combined. Most traumatic injuries are treated in emergency departments (EDs) that may not have the specialized resources or expertise needed to treat acutely injured children. Pediatric trauma centers do have these resources, but 43 percent of children in the United States live more than 30 miles from one.

The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) aims to provide resources and support to help all trauma centers optimize pediatric trauma care. Research has shown that pediatric readiness, or taking steps to prepare for children's health needs, is associated with as much as 60% reduced mortality in injured children. The EMSC works particularly closely to foster pediatric readiness in trauma centers with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, one of the its collaborative partners.