The Perilous State of Pediatric Emergency Care Across America

The recent heart-wrenching narratives of children’s experiences in emergency departments across the United States, as outlined by an investigation from The Wall Street Journal, forces us as a society to confront a deeply troubling reality.?

Hundreds of children are left either severely injured or lose their lives due to a systemic lack of preparedness in our nation’s emergency rooms.?

A mere 14% of emergency departments are certified to treat our youngest patients, revealing an urgent need for enhancement in our pediatric care standards and overall approach.

5 mind-boggling facts:

1. Children are four times as likely to die in less-prepared emergency rooms, a 2019 study found.
2. A 2015 analysis found the median score for emergency department pediatric readiness was a "D."
3. Although children account for 30 percent of U.S. emergency room visits, most are treated in EDs that care for fewer than 15 kids per day.
4. Between 2008 and 2018, hospitals cut nearly 20 percent of pediatric inpatient units, and most pediatric beds are now concentrated in urban areas.
5. Every year, an estimated half a million children are evaluated for psychiatric emergencies in emergency departments — a figure that has increased over the past decade — that are unequipped to handle the crisis.

A substantial portion of emergency doctors are bereft of adequate experience in treating a meaningful number of pediatric patients, complicating their ability to discern life-threatening illnesses that may present similarly to more ubiquitous, benign health issues or those typically seen in children, according to the WSJ.?

Recent studies have supplied solid data detailing the lack of preparedness and needless child deaths, and have brought to light essential actions to navigate and alleviate this issue. Children's rate of survival increases four times at emergency departments that are prepared, yet hospitals continue to cut pediatric beds for more lucrative adult care. Between 2008 and 2018, hospitals cut nearly 20 percent of pediatric inpatient units, and most pediatric beds are now concentrated in urban areas.

In certain instances, emergency personnel may default to employing drug dosages and treatment plans intended for adults and might either not have access to or be unaware of the location of medical equipment suitable for children during emergencies. For numerous decades, these lapses have been recognized and cautioned against by healthcare workers, public health officials, and policymakers, yet without resulting in substantial change.?

Systemic Approach Towards Improvement

As a healthcare technology organization and as humans, we are deeply moved and concerned by this revelation. As specialists in health information technology and advocates for quality patient care, it’s evident to us that the current status quo is incomprehensible and a dire need of a systematic approach to improvement.?

Hospital leaders and governmental legislators should focus on efforts to ensure that all emergency departments are sufficiently equipped and staffed to manage the distinct and urgent medical needs of children. Our children deserve medical attention that is not only prompt but also expertly administered with precision, empathy, and utmost care.

Technology is undoubtedly part of the solution. Advancements in health IT, especially in areas of clinical decision support (CDS) and accurate medical coding for analytics, have proven to significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, facilitate effective communication among healthcare teams, and streamline patient care, especially in high-pressure environments like emergency rooms.?

Technology alone is not the panacea for the myriad issues ailing pediatric emergency care, but it does provide a substantial foundation upon which more robust and resilient healthcare systems can be built.

However, this isn’t a call to action for adopting technology, but rather a plea to the healthcare community, policymakers, and fellow health IT professionals to recognize the grave importance of bolstering our emergency pediatric care nationwide. We urge hospital administrators and clinicians to review and augment their current systems and protocols, ensuring that pediatric readiness is not just a checkbox but a deeply ingrained practice.

Strategic partnerships among healthcare providers, technology firms, policymakers, and advocacy groups are paramount to devising comprehensive solutions that address the multifaceted challenges in pediatric emergency care. Moreover, transparency and knowledge sharing across all states and relevant stakeholders will be vital in facilitating a coordinated approach to enhance pediatric readiness across the board.

HITEKS stands in solidarity with all who advocate for higher quality and safer pediatric care standards. It's a journey that will necessitate the amalgamation of advanced technology, comprehensive training, and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all children in the United States.

It’s not just about meeting standards or avoiding litigation – it’s about affirming a steadfast commitment to preserving and nurturing the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable. The stories shared in the investigative report are not merely cases; they represent lives, futures, and families that are forever altered by experiences in emergency rooms. We owe it to them, and to future generations, to ensure that when a child enters an emergency department, they are met with the pinnacle of care that medical science and compassion can offer.

We must all work together and advocate to improve pediatric emergency care - to ensure every child in need receives exemplary emergency medical care, anywhere, anytime.