Study: Most ERs Aren’t Equipped to Care for Kids
The Stanford Medicine News Center has just reported on new research that claims that 80% of U.S. emergency departments are not fully equipped to treat pediatric patients, and that E.R. upgrades could nearly halve pediatric deaths—at a reasonable cost.
The study analyzed data from pediatric visits to hundreds of hospital emergency departments across 11 states. Researchers assessed ERs of all sizes and locations—rural, urban, public, and private—assigning scores from 0 to 100 based on their preparedness for pediatric emergencies. Facilities scoring 88 or higher were considered highly ready and demonstrated significantly better short- and long-term survival rates for children.
However, 80% of ERs scored below 88. The study examined data from 7.9 million pediatric patients treated in these less-prepared units for traumatic injuries and acute medical emergencies. Using predictive models, researchers estimated that better-prepared ERs could reduce pediatric deaths by 42%. The cost to improve ER readiness was $244,000 per life saved or $9,300 per quality-adjusted life year gained. Researchers noted that upgrading an ER cost less than $20,000 per quality-adjusted life year gained.
Ensuring children receive timely, appropriate emergency care can mean the difference between full recovery and lifelong disability—or even death. Key improvements include child-sized medical equipment such as pediatric ventilators and specialized training for doctors and nurses in emergency protocols for infants, children, and teens.
Unfortunately, mistakes happen in ERs. Just last year, Tom Duffy the highest medical malpractice verdict last year in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, also one of the top results of its kind in the nation. If you need a winning emergency room injury attorney, please contact us to set a time to speak today.