iEMSC Monthly Newsletter – April 2021

2021 EMSC EMS ASSESSMENT THANK YOU

iEMSC is pleased to share with you that Indiana exceeded the HRSA response rate requirement and obtained an 82.9% response rate, 577 out of 696 Indiana registered EMS agencies who response to public 911 completed the assessment. The objective of this assessment is to assess what methods and the frequency of skill-checking on pediatric equipment is being offered at EMS agencies, and how pediatric emergency care is coordinated at EMS agencies.

A sincere thank you to all who took the time to complete this assessment, iEMSC partners who were instrumental with messaging and distribution, and NEDARC-the national resource center who collects and analyzes the data for all EMSC programs.

NPRP ASSESSMENT

The National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment is a multi-phase quality improvement (QI) initiative to ensure that all U.S. emergency departments (EDs) have the essential guidelines and resources in place to provide effective emergency care to children.

The project is supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Federal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Children Program, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

ED nurse managers will receive several notifications with a link to the web-based assessment at https://pedsready.org/ You may visit the website and print a copy of the checklist to begin completing the assessment now. May 1st, the portal is live and you may enter the data until July 31st.

EMSC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

In an effort to grow future leaders within the EMSC space, the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) has created the EMSC Scholars and Fellows Program to engage early career clinicians and health systems professionals.

We are excited to announce iEMSC Advisory Board Member-Natasha Thompson, FNP-C, from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, is 1 of 6 EMSC Scholars will work alongside EIIC leaders to develop and implement a unique project focused on a key area(s) of interest.

PEDIATRIC HEROES AWARD NOMINATION FORMS AVAILABLE

iEMSC will be accepting nominations all year long for the amazing work that happens on behalf of children all over the State of Indiana. Do you know someone that goes above and beyond for children or has done something extraordinary for a child? If so, please nominate that pediatric hero! You can nominate by completing this nomination form and emailing to Margo Knefelkamp via email at margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org

INDIANA PEDIATRIC FACILITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Application packets are available. Interested hospitals, please contact Program Manager, Margo Knefelkamp via email margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org or phone 317-630-7742 office, and 317-523-4636 mobile. Indiana hospital emergency departments may apply to be recognized as “Pediatric Ready” or “Pediatric Advanced.”

Educational Opportunities

  • Do you have an educational event in the near future?
    Please contact iEMSC, to notify of your upcoming pediatric training opportunities or pediatric related event.
  • Save the Date:
    2021 Indiana Emergency Response Conference September 15-18.
    Location: Sheraton Indianapolis Keystone Crossing
  • Handtevy Instructor Course Date TBD.

Quarterly Pediatric Emergency Care
Coordinator Newsletter

This newsletter focuses on the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) role and will highlight different tools and resources to help support this important position. Please take a moment to view this quarter’s newsletter and to forward it along to your colleagues. If you would like to start receiving this newsletter please email margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org.

NEW TRAINING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEDIATRIC READINESS CHAMPIONS

FOUNDATIONS OF PEDIATRIC PREPAREDNESS

New Training for the Development of Pediatric Readiness Champions offered through EMSC New England and OPENPediatrics! Use this to on-board your Pediatric Emergency Care Prehospital and Hospital Champions!

Access the training through this link. It does require you creating a FREE OPENPediatrics account to take the course.

To access the content, just click on the link below.
New England Foundations of Pediatric Preparedness Virtual Forum

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT:
PEDIATRIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY KITS (PEAK)

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health is one of the most important and challenging areas in pediatric emergency care. Given the broad spectrum and depth of the topic, the KM domain steering committee deemed the three most impactful focus areas for PEAK mental health content will be:

  1. Suicide prevention and screening
  2. Managing the agitated patient
  3. Environmental safety

To this end, content from these mental health topics will be posted to the Knowledge Management Early Access Program (KEAP) page beginning in February 2021. KEAP is the pre-publication page, where content is first posted for review, comments, and feedback by potential end users and those who have content expertise in the topic. This feedback guides iterative improvements and/or assists in determining what is the highest quality content for public release as a PEAK.

For access, to sign up on the EIIC website to be a registered user for free resources, as well as opt in to receive early access content.

Education and Pediatric Related Events

2021 EVENTS

Indiana School Nurse Emergency Care Course. Indiana EMSC and the Indiana Department of Education are pleased to announce the Indiana School Nurse Emergency Care course. This course is a hybrid course with an online portion to be completed prior to attending a one-day in-person training. Online training modules include topics such as:

  • The School Nurse Role in Emergency Care
  • Legal Issues in Nursing
  • Assessment and Triage
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Abdominal and Genitourinary Emergencies
  • EENT and Dental Emergencies
  • Emergencies Involving Mental or Behavioral Health
  • School Emergency Response and Crisis Management
  • In person training TBD.

Child Passenger Safety Technician Scholarship Program: The Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Scholarship Program, sponsored through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention, is dedicated to preventing injuries and trauma throughout Indiana. Through the Maternal Child and Health Services (TITLE 5) grant, recipients can be reimbursed up to $250 for participating in a training course to become a CPST. The CPST Scholarship Program funds must be used towards any fees related to the training class, including: the cost of the class; travel; lodging; parking services; or any equipment needed in order to attend the class. For more information about this program, please contact Paravdeep Nijjar, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for ISDH. Click here for more information.

TRAINING – The Center for Global Health at the Colorado School of Public Health Online Pediatrics in Disasters Course. Although a quarter of the world’s population is under the age of five, 50 percent of the victims of man-made and natural disasters are children. Children are vulnerable in disasters for physiological, psychological and developmental reasons. Too often medical staff is ill-prepared for pediatric triage and emergency stabilization in terms of knowledge and experience, as well as equipment and supplies. The Pediatrics in Disaster training program trains health care providers to prioritize life-saving care for children in disasters. Because of the vulnerability of children and adolescents, pediatricians and other health professionals must ensure that local, regional and national disaster preparedness planning meets the specific needs of children and adolescents. Click here to register.

iEMSC Monthly Newsletter – March 2021

EMSC EMS ASSESSMENT ENDS MARCH 19th!

Indiana’s response rate is 63.5%! The assessment closes next Friday.

The goal of this assessment is to understand the capabilities of EMS agencies in our state to treat ill or injured children, specifically in regards to the use of pediatric specific equipment and the coordination of pediatric care.

Questions, please reach out to State EMS Division-District Managers or iEMSC.

NPRP ASSESSMENT

The National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment is anticipated to launch the week of May 3, 2021-anticipated closure the week of July 26, 2021. iEMSC is identifying contacts at each Emergency Department to complete the assessment. Please visit https://pedsready.org/​​​​​​​ Additional communication will be in this newsletter and social media.

PEDIATRIC HEROES AWARD NOMINATION FORMS AVAILABLE

iEMSC will be accepting nominations all year long for the amazing work that happens on behalf of children all over the State of Indiana. Do you know someone that goes above and beyond for children or has done something extraordinary for a child? If so, please nominate that pediatric hero! You can nominate by completing this nomination form and emailing to Margo Knefelkamp via email at margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org

INDIANA PEDIATRIC FACILITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Application packets are available. Interested hospitals, please contact Program Manager, Margo Knefelkamp via email margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.orgor phone 317-630-7742 office, and 317-523-4636 mobile. Indiana hospital emergency departments may apply to be recognized as “Pediatric Ready” or “Pediatric Advanced.”

Educational Opportunities

  • Do you have an educational event in the near future? Please contact iEMSC, to notify of your upcoming pediatric training opportunities or pediatric related event.
  • Handtevy Instructor Course Date TBD.

Quarterly Pediatric Emergency Care
Coordinator Newsletter

This newsletter focuses on the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) role and will highlight different tools and resources to help support this important position. Please take a moment to view this quarter’s newsletter and to forward it along to your colleagues. If you would like to start receiving this newsletter please email margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org.

RURAL FIRST RESPONDER NALOXONE GRANT 2021

IDOH ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is accepting grant applications to provide first responders in rural counties intranasal naloxone. Only first responders who provide services in rural counties are eligible to receive the naloxone doses. The following types of agencies (paid or volunteer) are considered first responders under this grant: law enforcement, fire, EMS agencies, corrections, parole officers and schools. Please review the grant announcement for additional information: FR Naloxone.

First responder agencies in non-rural counties, should reach out to their county health departments to see if they can receive naloxone through the county health department grant.

Please email Cassidy McNamee if you have any questions: casmcnamee@isdh.in.gov.

Special Interest

RURAL EMS TRAINING GRANT

Eligible applicants from rural EMS agencies are encouraged to submit applications before March 18, 2021

EMS organizations planning on applying for a Rural EMS Training Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment must submit applications by March 18. SAMHSA plans on awarding up to $5.5 million in awards to help eligible agencies recruit and train personnel. More information is available on SAMHSA’s website.

In recognition of the great need for emergency services in rural areas and the critical role EMS personnel serve across the country, SAMHSA plans on funding up to 27 projects, with a maximum of $200,000 per grant awardee. Eligible applicants include rural EMS agencies operated by a local or tribal government (fire-based and non-fire based) and non-profit EMS agencies.

Education and Pediatric Related Events

2021 EVENTS

Indiana School Nurse Emergency Care Course. Indiana EMSC and the Indiana Department of Education are pleased to announce the Indiana School Nurse Emergency Care course. This course is a hybrid course with an online portion to be completed prior to attending a one-day in-person training. Online training modules include topics such as:

  • The School Nurse Role in Emergency Care
  • Legal Issues in Nursing
  • Assessment and Triage
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Abdominal and Genitourinary Emergencies
  • EENT and Dental Emergencies
  • Emergencies Involving Mental or Behavioral Health
  • School Emergency Response and Crisis Management
  • In person training TBD.

Child Passenger Safety Technician Scholarship Program: The Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Scholarship Program, sponsored through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention, is dedicated to preventing injuries and trauma throughout Indiana. Through the Maternal Child and Health Services (TITLE 5) grant, recipients can be reimbursed up to $250 for participating in a training course to become a CPST. The CPST Scholarship Program funds must be used towards any fees related to the training class, including: the cost of the class; travel; lodging; parking services; or any equipment needed in order to attend the class. For more information about this program, please contact Paravdeep Nijjar, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for ISDH. Click here for more information.

TRAINING – The Center for Global Health at the Colorado School of Public Health Online Pediatrics in Disasters Course. Although a quarter of the world’s population is under the age of five, 50 percent of the victims of man-made and natural disasters are children. Children are vulnerable in disasters for physiological, psychological and developmental reasons. Too often medical staff is ill-prepared for pediatric triage and emergency stabilization in terms of knowledge and experience, as well as equipment and supplies. The Pediatrics in Disaster training program trains health care providers to prioritize life-saving care for children in disasters. Because of the vulnerability of children and adolescents, pediatricians and other health professionals must ensure that local, regional and national disaster preparedness planning meets the specific needs of children and adolescents. Click here to register.

Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Quarterly Newsletter – February 2021

EMSC EMS ASSESSMENT

The annual EMSC EMS Survey is now available. The assessment launched on January 6th and is available until March 15, 2021. Indiana registered EMS Agencies may complete via emscsurveys.org

The goal of this assessment is to understand the capabilities of EMS agencies in our state to treat ill or injured children, specifically in regards to the use of pediatric specific equipment and the coordination of pediatric care.

NATIONAL PEDIATRIC READINESS PROJECT ASSESSMENT

The launch date for the National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment is anticipated the week of May 3, 2021-anticipated closure the week of July 26, 2021. Pedsready.org will update with further information as details emerge.

INDIANA PEDIATRIC FACILITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Application packets are now available. Interested hospitals, please contact Program Manager, Margo Knefelkamp via email margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org or phone 317-630-7742 office, and 317-523-4636 mobile. Indiana hospital emergency departments may apply to be recognized as “Pediatric Ready” or “Pediatric Advanced.”

EIIC LAUNCHES STATUS EPILEPTICUS PEAK

PEDIATRIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY KITS

Pediatric seizure is one of the most common neurologic emergencies in children. Prolonged seizure (status epilepticus) can be very difficult to manage and can create stress and anxiety not just to the patient family, but also to the healthcare provider. As the goal of seizure management is to stop the seizure as soon as possible, identifying best practices for treatment is important. The PEAK content is provided to help with managing status epilepticus from prehospital to the hospital environment and highlight available resources for our patients and families with epilepsy.

To access: https://emscimprovement.center/education-and-resources/peak/peak-status-epilepticus/ ​​​​​​​

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE

FREE ACCESS

The EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center is providing FREE limited time access from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital Centre (Riyadh) to the International Conference in Pediatric Emergency. Access over 20, 30-minute lectures on high-impact pediatric topics from five world-leading PEM researchers and educators.

To access: https://medicalacademy.org/portal/event/view/1258

Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Quarterly Newsletter – October 2020

EMSC EMS ASSESSMENT LAUNCH DATE

The launch date for the annual EMSC EMS Survey is anticipated the week of January 3, 2021 to March 15, 2021.

The goal of this assessment is to understand the capabilities of EMS agencies in our state to treat ill or injured children, specifically in regards to the use of pediatric specific equipment and the coordination of pediatric care.

NPRP ASSESSMENT

The National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment is a multi-phase quality improvement (QI) initiative to ensure that all U.S. emergency departments (EDs) have the essential guidelines and resources in place to provide effective emergency care to children.

The project is supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Federal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Children Program, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

ED nurse managers will receive several notifications with a link to the web-based assessment at https://pedsready.org/ You may visit the website and print a copy of the checklist to begin completing the assessment now. May 1st, the portal is live and you may enter the data until July 31st.

EMSC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

In an effort to grow future leaders within the EMSC space, the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) has created the EMSC Scholars and Fellows Program to engage early career clinicians and health systems professionals.

We are excited to announce iEMSC Advisory Board Member-Natasha Thompson, FNP-C, from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, is 1 of 6 EMSC Scholars will work alongside EIIC leaders to develop and implement a unique project focused on a key area(s) of interest.

HANDTEVY INSTRUCTOR COURSE

The Handtevy Instructor course that was to be held on March 13th, 2020 will now be held at a later date. The new date will be posted to iEMSC newsletter and social media accounts, once a new course date is determined.

NATIONAL PEDIATRIC READINESS PROJECT ASSESSMENT

The launch date for the National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment is anticipated the week of May 3, 2021-anticipated closure the week of July 26, 2021. will update with further information as details emerge.

INDIANA PEDIATRIC FACILITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Application packets are now available. Interested hospitals, please contact Program Manager, Margo Knefelkamp via email
margo.knefelkamp@indianapolisems.org or phone 317-630-7742 office, and 317-523-4636 mobile. Indiana hospital emergency departments may apply to be recognized as “Pediatric Ready” or “Pediatric Advanced.”

2019 INDIANA EMS PEDIATRIC INCIDENT REPORT

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT RESOURCES FOR INDIANA EMS AGENCIES

Pediatric patients account for roughly 5 to 10 percent of all EMS incidents annually in the United States. Treating injured or sick children can make even experienced EMS providers anxious, especially if they have not seen many pediatric patients throughout their career or have not had recent hands-on training focusing on pediatric emergency care. IDHS continues to focus on this vulnerable population to improve pediatric emergency care provided by Indiana EMS professionals.

The Pediatric Incident Report is the first ever published analysis of pediatric specific data using the State of Indiana EMS Registry. This annual report is intended to be used along with the previously published Indiana EMS CQI report to better guide education and training for Indiana EMS provider agencies.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report “Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains” recommends EMS agencies and emergency departments (EDs) appoint a pediatric emergency care coordinator to provide pediatric leadership for their organizations. IDHS adopted this recommendation in 2019, and it is now required for licensure for all EMS provider agencies. The IOM report further states pediatric coordinators are necessary to advocate for improved competencies and the availability of resources for pediatric patients. A coordinator fulfilling this role ensures the agency and its providers are better prepared to care for ill and injured children. The Pediatric Incident Report will serve as a foundational basis to guide individual agency pediatric emergency care coordinators in their ongoing education and training efforts.

Special thanks to the Indiana Emergency Medical Services for Children organization for their review and input into this unique report.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Kaufmann, MD, FACEP, FAEMS

WEBINAR RECORDING:
CHILD HEALTH AND WELLNESS

NOW AVAILABLE

ASPR TRACIE and ASPR’s Pediatric Centers of Excellence have released the recording for the first webinar, Child Health and Wellness, in the series “Hidden Consequences: How the COVID Pandemic is Impacting Children.” This one-page summary includes information and registration links for the following upcoming webinars:

  • Child Emotional and Social Effects
    (1:00-2:15 PM ET, October 16, 2020)
  • The Effects of Secondary Disasters on Children
    (1:00-2:30 PM ET, October 23, 2020)
  • The Impact of COVID-19 on Children with Special Healthcare Needs
    (1:00-2:00 PM ET, October 29, 2020)