Pediatric Emergency Care Coordination in EMS Agencies: Measuring the Influence, Magnifying the Improvement
Yale University
Principal Investigator: Mark X. Cicero, MD
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECCs) are believed to have a positive effect on pediatric prehospital care by ensuring training, education, and resources that establish standards and encourage guideline adherence in EMS agencies. However, many aspects of PECC training and evaluation, as well as the effects of PECCs on health outcomes and EMS agencies, remain unstudied. This project’s goal is to assess the impact of PECC designation on the quality of clinical care, on patient and family-centered outcomes, and to determine the best methods for establishing PECCs among EMS agencies. The project is being conducted in three states: Connecticut, Rhode Island and Colorado.
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Pediatric Care Coordination in EMS Agencies – Improving Child Health Outcomes in Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health
Principal Investigators: Toni Gross, MD, MPH and Amanda Perry, M.Ed., NRP
This project will improve system readiness in Louisiana’s emergency healthcare system by creating a statewide consortium of PECCs in EMS agencies. Establishing this statewide system of collaboration will provide resources, support networks, education, training, and personnel development that will ultimately improve pediatric emergency care across Louisiana. Data from multiple EMS agencies collectively serving over 35,000 pediatric patients annually will be linked to hospital ED data to determine how the presence of PECCs in the pre-hospital setting affects pediatric patient health outcomes.
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System Readiness Improvements through the EMS Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators Program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Principal Investigator: Jane Brice, MD, MPH
Due to high personnel turnover and inexperience in pediatric emergency care among EMS workers, it can be difficult to ensure that new medical guidelines are fully implemented in a timely manner. The goal of this project is to expand upon and improve an existing program and establish a sustainable, affordable, and replicable program comprised of prehospital PECCs supported by a rich system of resources and accountability tools.
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A Multi-State Evaluation of Emergency Department Pediatric Readiness: Guideline Update and Association with Quality, Outcomes, and Cost
Oregon Health and Science University
Principal Investigator: Craig D. Newgard, MD, MPH
The National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) launched in 2012 to ensure ideal pediatric emergency care by implementing standardized guidelines for EDs and measuring their improvement. However, the ability of EDs to adopt and implement these guidelines, the impact on health outcomes, and the associated costs have not yet been evaluated. To address this gap, the investigators will evaluate two multistate cohorts of children presenting to EDs combined with national survey data to evaluate the impact of ED Pediatric Readiness in 13 states (1,504 EDs) and (separately) trauma systems in 44 states (639 trauma centers). The project will focus on two high-risk subgroups within these cohorts that are likely to be particularly sensitive to ED readiness: seriously injured children (Injury Severity Score >= 16) and critically ill non-injured children.
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Developing a National Pediatric Readiness Project Quality Improvement Data Registry
Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Principal Investigator: Katherine Remick, MD
The majority (83%) of children seek care in non-pediatric specialty emergency departments (ED). On average EDs see less than 15 pediatric patients a day and less than 50% report a quality improvement (QI) process for pediatric patients. Results from the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) demonstrated over 80% of US EDs want to provide quality pediatric care. Facilities are poised for engagement, but no Quality Improvement (QI) data registry exists to assess processes of care and adherence to evidence-based clinical care. The investigators will address these gaps by developing a data registry system and using this tool to evaluate and improve pediatric readiness efforts. Health outcomes will be assessed by using two common clinical conditions to measure the effectiveness of QI efforts relating to pediatric readiness.
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