The National Pediatric Prehospital Readiness Project: First Comprehensive Assessment of United States Emergency Medical Services Agencies

• 2026

  Log in to bookmark this resource.

  Log in
• Kathleen Adelgais; Katherine Remick; Hilary Hewes; Rachel Crady; Rachael Alter; Marianne Gausche-Hill
PMID: 41721808DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2026.01.013

---

Access Resources

• Journal ArticleEN
• Ask aRCie About This Resource

About

The article describes the first national study of how ready emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in the United States are to care for children before they reach the hospital. Nearly half of EMS agencies responded to a survey, showing strengths in equipment and safety but weaknesses in family-centered care and quality improvement. Agencies with a pediatric emergency care coordinator scored higher on readiness. The study suggests that having someone focused on children's needs helps EMS teams be better prepared, and more work is needed to improve care for kids during emergencies.

---

Tags

Focus Areas: Everyday Emergency; Infectious Disease; Trauma

Audiences: Emergency Managers; EMS Clinicians; Nurses; Physicians

Emergency Management Stage: Preparedness (Prevention / Protection)

Bundles: Pediatric Readiness Studies

Keywords: Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Medical Technicians; Health Personnel; Patient Care Team; United States; Surveys and Questionnaires

Institutions: University of Colorado; University of Texas at Austin; University of Utah; National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO); Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

---

More like this

Establishing Quality Measures for the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project 2026 · George Washington University, University of Colorado, National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Yale University Pediatric Readiness and Trauma Center Access for Children 2025 · National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), University of California San Francisco, University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas at Austin, George Washington University, University of South Carolina, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center How Pediatric Readiness can Impact Pediatric Trauma From Every Day to Mass Events 2025 · National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University of Texas at Austin, Harvard Medical School, George Washington University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, University of Louisville, University of South Carolina, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, The Ohio State University

---

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

---