Are Emergency Rooms Failing Kids? Study finds over 2,000 pediatric deaths may be preventable yearly
(InvestigateTV) — Is the emergency room nearest you prepared to treat children in need of care?
A new national study reveals that a majority of emergency rooms across the United States are not fully prepared to care for pediatric patients, raising concerns that thousands of children’s deaths each year may be preventable.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that just 17% of U.S. emergency departments meet the standard for “high pediatric readiness.” That designation includes having child-specific protocols, staff training, and appropriately sized equipment.
Dr. Nathan Kuppermann of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., co-authored the study. He said more than 8,000 children die annually after arriving at an emergency room, and an estimated 25% of those deaths could be avoided with better pediatric readiness.
“I don’t want parents to panic, but this is important,” Kuppermann said. “If all ERs were at a high-readiness level, more than 2,000 lives could potentially be saved each year.”
The study analyzed data from nearly 5,000 emergency departments nationwide and used predictive modeling to estimate the cost of reaching universal readiness. The estimated annual investment was roughly $207 million, or as little as $0 to $12 per child, depending on the state. According to Kuppermann, that’s what it would take to bring every ER in the U.S. to that highest level of pediatric readiness.
“$200 million a year is what we would call budget dust,” Kuppermann said. “This is a very high return on investment.”
One recommended improvement is the appointment of a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) in every ER. This role ensures the availability of necessary equipment and the implementation of pediatric protocols.
In Jamestown, North Dakota, Dr. Steve Inglish has taken on that role at his rural hospital. Since making modest upgrades and adding a color-coded pediatric equipment cart, the hospital’s pediatric readiness score has jumped by 14 points.
“We’re not where we want to be yet, but we’re definitely better prepared,” Inglish said.
The story hits home for Phyllis Rabinowitz, who lost her 9-day-old daughter Rebecca after what she says was a misdiagnosis in an emergency room. Rabinowitz said doctors believed Rebecca had a cold, but she died days later from a viral infection.
“It’s really never been about blame for us, because it’s a systemic issue,” Rabinowitz said. “Many emergency rooms aren’t prepared for children, and it’s causing deaths.”
In her daughter’s memory, Rabinowitz founded the R Baby Foundation, which advocates for improved pediatric emergency care and funds training initiatives across the country.
Kuppermann’s study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Cinnamon Dixon, who leads NIH’s programs on Emergency Medical Services for Children, said the findings reinforce the urgency of the issue.
“Kids make up about 25% of our global population, but they are 100% of our future,” Dixon said.
Currently, Delaware is the only state where every ER meets the standard for high pediatric readiness.
Advocates are now calling on Congress and state legislatures to take action, citing the affordability and life-saving potential of the reforms.
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