title: A national assessment of pediatric readiness of emergency departments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous assessments of readiness of emergency departments (EDs) have not been comprehensive and have shown relatively poor pediatric readiness, with a reported weighted pediatric readiness score (WPRS) of 55.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess US EDs for pediatric readiness based on compliance with the 2009 guidelines for care of children in EDs; to evaluate the effect of physician/nurse pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECCs) on pediatric readiness; and to identify gaps for future quality initiatives by a national coalition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based assessment of US EDs (excluding specialty hospitals and hospitals without an ED open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week) for pediatric readiness. All 5017 ED nurse managers were sent a 55-question web-based assessment. Assessments were administered from January 1 through August 23, 2013. Data were analyzed from September 12, 2013, through January 11, 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  A modified Delphi process generated a WPRS. An adjusted WPRS was calculated excluding the points received for the presence of physician and nurse PECCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 5017 EDs contacted, 4149 (82.7%) responded, representing 24 million annual pediatric ED visits. Among the EDs entered in the analysis, 69.4% had low or medium pediatric volume and treated less than 14 children per day. The median WPRS was 68.9 (interquartile range [IQR] 56.1-83.6). The median WPRS increased by pediatric patient volume, from 61.4 (IQR, 49.5-73.6) for low-pediatric-volume EDs compared with 89.8 (IQR, 74.7-97.2) for high-pediatric-volume EDs (P < .001). The median percentage of recommended pediatric equipment available was 91% (IQR, 81%-98%). The presence of physician and nurse PECCs was associated with a higher adjusted median WPRS (82.2 [IQR, 69.7-92.5]) compared with no PECC (66.5 [IQR, 56.0-76.9]) across all pediatric volume categories (P < .001). The presence of PECCs increased the likelihood of having all the recommended components, including a pediatric quality improvement process (adjusted relative risk, 4.11 [95% CI, 3.37-5.02]). Barriers to guideline implementation were reported by 80.8% of responding EDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate improvement in pediatric readiness of EDs compared with previous reports. The physician and nurse PECCs play an important role in pediatric readiness of EDs, and their presence is associated with improved compliance with published guidelines. Barriers to implementation of guidelines may be targeted for future initiatives by a national coalition whose goal is to ensure day-to-day pediatric readiness of our nation's EDs.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Medical Center, Torrance2Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance3Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA4De.
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: Gausche-Hill
authors: National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis Resource Center, Salt Lake City, Utah6Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Ely
authors: National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis Resource Center, Salt Lake City, Utah6Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Schmuhl
authors: National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis Resource Center, Salt Lake City, Utah6Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Telford
authors: Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, Austin, Texas8Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, Texas.
authors: Katherine E
authors: KE
authors: Remick
authors: Emergency Medical Services for Children and Injury Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Edgerton
authors: National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis Resource Center, Salt Lake City, Utah6Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors: Lenora M
authors: LM
authors: Olson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States