Study: EDs more prepared to care for children

Hospital emergency departments have improved pediatric readiness based on self-reported compliance with national guidelines, according to new study published online by JAMA Pediatrics. Based on responses by more than 4,000 EDs to an online assessment conducted from January to August 2013 by the National Pediatric Readiness Project, the median weighted pediatric readiness score improved to 68.9 in 2013 from 55 in 2003. EDs with a pediatric emergency care coordinator tended to score higher, as did those with a higher annual volume of pediatric visits. Virtually all the EDs reported training staff on the location of pediatric equipment and having tools to ensure proper sizing of resuscitation equipment and dosing of medications, but fewer than half had a disaster plan or quality improvement plan to address the ED needs of children. Eight in 10 respondents reported barriers to implementing readiness guidelines, including the cost of training personnel and a lack of educational resources.