Handtevy Mobile Closes the Gap in Pediatric Emergency Care: A Vital Response to Recent Findings
Every year, countless young lives are impacted by the split-second decisions made in emergency departments across the United States. Amid a sea of patients, the unique needs of our youngest and most vulnerable can be overshadowed by the overwhelming demands of a system not designed with them in mind. The recent investigative report by The Wall Street Journal has shone a distressing light on the state of pediatric emergency care in the United States, revealing a system that falls short in the face of a child’s urgent medical needs. The investigation uncovered that clinicians lack the experience required to recognize life-threatening conditions in children, leading to misdiagnoses and incorrect treatments. Only 14% of emergency departments are adequately ready to manage pediatric emergencies, a statistic that speaks volumes about the silent risks our children face.
Supporting EMSC and NPRP Efforts:
In response to this troubling landscape, the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program and the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) stand out as leaders for change. The NPRP is a quality improvement initiative that is driving change by encouraging EDs to deliver effective emergency care to children. Through its pediatric assessment tools, which measure the pediatric readiness of hospital EDs, the NPRP is promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
Recognizing the impact of pediatric readiness, legislation is now being proposed around the country to mandate that all hospital EDs develop and implement pediatric care policies and procedures reflecting evidence-based best practices. This includes the crucial elements of triage, vital sign measurement, accurate weight recording in kilograms, precise medication dosage calculations, and the use of pediatric-specific equipment. To reinforce these policies, State-specific bills such as the one moving through the Florida House (HB 1343) require that hospitals conduct annual training and simulation drills, ensuring that each clinical team member receives the necessary education to excel in pediatric emergency care.
Handtevy Mobile: Your Ally for Optimal Pediatric Readiness:
As legislative measures take shape, Handtevy Mobile stands as a critical ally in this endeavor, designed to bolster the capabilities of EDs in meeting and exceeding the standards set by the NPRP. Handtevy Mobile addresses the complex challenges of medication dosing, equipment sizing, and provides CPR assistance tailored for pediatric patients—all pre-calculated to eliminate any confusion upon a child’s arrival in the ED.
The implementation of Handtevy Mobile seamlessly integrates with the ongoing efforts of EMSC and NPRP by enhancing the preparedness of medical staff. With its intuitive platform, Handtevy Mobile ensures that ED physicians and nurses have immediate access to the most current and accurate pediatric dosing information and treatment guidelines. This not only supports the policies and procedures hospitals are developing but also builds upon the annual training and drills that are becoming a standard practice.
The path to improving pediatric emergency care is multifaceted, involving rigorous research, legislative action, and the integration of cutting-edge technology like Handtevy Mobile. By supporting EMSC and NPRP initiatives and adhering to the proposed legislative requirements, hospitals can significantly enhance their readiness to save young lives. Handtevy Mobile is the embodiment of this collective effort, a solution that empowers healthcare providers to deliver the highest standard of emergency care to our children, when and where it matters most.
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Peter Antevy, MD
Sources:
- The National Pediatric Readiness Project, Pediatric Readiness Saves Lives
Available at https://media.emscimprovement.center/ documents/EMS220628_ ReadinessByTheNumbers_220830_ ZekNYVF.pdf - Liz Essley Whyte and Melanie Evans, Children are Dying in Ill-Prepared Emergency Rooms Across America, Wall Street Journal (Oct. 2023)
Available at https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/hospitals- emergency-rooms-cost- childrens-lives-d6c9fc23 - Florida State Legislature. (2024). SB 1418: Pediatric Care in Hospital Emergency Departments. Florida Senate.
Retrieved from https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1418
DISCLAIMER:Pediatric Emergency Standards Inc. does not make clinical or medical decisions. The Handtevy System is intended to be utilized as a guide only. Provider’s experience and training should be the final determinant of clinical treatment decisions.