Most US emergency departments poorly prepared to treat children

A study of how well prepared US emergency departments are to treat children has shown that only 6% had all the equipment and supplies recommended in 2001 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and endorsed by 17 national organisations (Pediatrics 2007;120:1229-37).

The study was based on a questionnaire and follow-ups posted in 2003 to the medical directors of 5144 emergency departments; 1489 useable surveys were returned. The survey questions were weighted by an expert panel, which judged the importance of various criteria of paediatric care. The results were presented on …