Evaluation of Pediatric Readiness Using Simulation in General Emergency Departments in a Medically Underserved Region

Abstract

Background Regionalization of pediatric care in the United States was developed to improve care by directing patients to hospitals with optimal pediatric resources and experience, leading to less pediatric-trained providers in medically underserved areas. Children with emergencies, however, continue to present to local general emergency departments (GEDs), where pediatric emergencies are low-frequency, high-risk events. Objective The goals of this project were to: increase exposure of GEDs in the southeast United States to pediatric emergencies through simulation, assess pediatric emergency clinical care processes with simulation, describe factors associated with readiness including volume of pediatric patients and ED location (urban/rural), and compare these findings to the 2013 National Pediatric Readiness Project. Methods This prospective in situ simulation study evaluated GED readiness using the Emergency Medical Services for Children Pediatric Readiness Score (PRS) and team performance in caring for 4 simulated pediatric emergencies. Comparisons between GED and pediatric ED (PED) performance and PRS, GED performance, and PRS based on pediatric patient volume and hospital location were evaluated. A Composite Quality Score (CQS) was calculated for each ED. Results Seventy-five teams from 40 EDs participated (39 GED; 1 PED). The PED had a significantly higher volume of pediatric patients (73,000 vs 4492; P = 0.003). The PRS for GEDs was significantly lower (57% [SD, 17] vs 98%; P = 0.022). The CQSs for all GEDs were significantly lower than the PED (55% vs 87%; P < 0.004). Among GEDs, there was no statistically significant difference in PRS or CQS based on pediatric patient volume, but urban GEDs had significantly higher CQSs versus rural GEDs (59.8% vs 50.6%, P = 0.001). Conclusions This study shows a significant disparity in the performance and readiness of GEDs versus a PED in a medically underserved area. More education and better access to resources is needed in these areas to adequately care for critically ill pediatric patients.