Approximately 35 million children in the United States visit emergency departments (EDs) each year.¹ More than 80 percent of those ED visits occur in community hospitals that see fewer than 10 children daily.¹

Regardless of size, volume, or location, it is important that every ED in the United States is properly equipped to care for children. Despite this need, because of limited resources, many general EDs focus their attention mainly on infrastructure to support the care of adult patients, who constitute the bulk of their patient volumes. This leaves many EDs with significant gaps in the pediatric-specific equipment, resources, and clinical practice protocols needed to adequately respond to the needs of ill or injured children.

Studies have demonstrated that having a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC) to champion pediatric causes and address these gaps significantly improves pediatric readiness of EDs and that high pediatric readiness is associated with as much as 76 percent lower mortality risk.^1,2 Yet only 29 percent of EDs have both the recommended physician and nurse PECC.¹ To help support and grow PECCs, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) developed the Emergency Department PECC Module Series, a free, online educational resource designed for both new and existing physician and nurse PECCs.

What Is a PECC?

A PECC, also known as a pediatric champion, is an ED clinician (usually a nurse or physician) who helps ensure that systems, staff, and resources are in place to deliver high-quality emergency care for children. Research indicates that having both a physician and nurse PECC is among the most effective ways to improve pediatric readiness in an ED.¹ The PECC role supports the seven key areas of pediatric readiness: coordination of care; policies, procedures, and protocols; care team competencies; quality improvement; patient safety; pediatric-specific equipment, supplies, and medications; and support services.

Why It Matters

Evidence shows that children with an acute medical condition who are treated in EDs with a higher pediatric readiness score (minimum of 88 on a 100-point scale) have a 76 percent lower mortality risk. Similarly, acutely injured children who are treated at a higher pediatric ready hospital have a 76 percent lower risk of death from their injuries.³ Nationally, this adds up to the potential saving of 2,000 pediatric lives in the U.S. each year,² at a cost of only $4 to $48 per pediatric patient.⁴ The PECC Module Series helps hospitals move closer to full readiness by providing standardized, evidence-based guidance.⁵ It also supports hospitals seeking to meet National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) benchmarks or develop a sustainable PECC program.