TY - JOUR
T1 - Pediatric emergency care coordinator workforce
T2 - A survey study
AU - Foster, Ashley A.
AU - Li, Joyce
AU - Wilkinson, Matthew H.
AU - Ely, Michael
AU - Gausche-Hill, Marianne
AU - Newgard, Craig
AU - Remick, Katherine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. JACEP Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Emergency Physicians.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Objectives: The appointment of pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECC) in emergency departments (EDs) enhances pediatric readiness, yet little is understood regarding this workforce. We describe PECC role characteristics, responsibilities, barriers, and threats to the role among a national cohort. Methods: We surveyed a sample of PECCs from all regions of the United States who participated in the Emergency Medical Services for Children PECC Workforce and Trauma Collaboratives (2021–2022). EDs were categorized by annual pediatric patient volume: low (<1800), medium (1800–4999), medium-high (5000–9999), and high (≥10,000). Trend tests were performed to explore the relationship between pediatric volume and PECC characteristics. Results: Among 187 PECCs, 114 (61.0%) responded. The majority (75.2%) identified as a nurse. There was a significant difference in median hours per week spent on PECC activities by pediatric volume ranging from a median of 2 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 0.0–2.3) for low pediatric volume to 16 hours (IQR 4.0–37.0) for high pediatric volume (P < 0.001). Most respondents reported more time was needed for PECC activities (58.4%), and desired additional training to support the role (70.8%). Most (74.6%) felt the PECC position should be paid, yet 30.7% reported the role was voluntary. The most frequently assigned responsibilities were education of staff (77.2%) and oversight of quality improvement (QI) efforts (72.8%). Conclusion: Characteristics of PECC workforce vary but PECC activities of education and QI work are common among all. There is a reported need for additional training and support. Further studies will determine the impact of PECC characteristics on pediatric readiness.
AB - Objectives: The appointment of pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECC) in emergency departments (EDs) enhances pediatric readiness, yet little is understood regarding this workforce. We describe PECC role characteristics, responsibilities, barriers, and threats to the role among a national cohort. Methods: We surveyed a sample of PECCs from all regions of the United States who participated in the Emergency Medical Services for Children PECC Workforce and Trauma Collaboratives (2021–2022). EDs were categorized by annual pediatric patient volume: low (<1800), medium (1800–4999), medium-high (5000–9999), and high (≥10,000). Trend tests were performed to explore the relationship between pediatric volume and PECC characteristics. Results: Among 187 PECCs, 114 (61.0%) responded. The majority (75.2%) identified as a nurse. There was a significant difference in median hours per week spent on PECC activities by pediatric volume ranging from a median of 2 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 0.0–2.3) for low pediatric volume to 16 hours (IQR 4.0–37.0) for high pediatric volume (P < 0.001). Most respondents reported more time was needed for PECC activities (58.4%), and desired additional training to support the role (70.8%). Most (74.6%) felt the PECC position should be paid, yet 30.7% reported the role was voluntary. The most frequently assigned responsibilities were education of staff (77.2%) and oversight of quality improvement (QI) efforts (72.8%). Conclusion: Characteristics of PECC workforce vary but PECC activities of education and QI work are common among all. There is a reported need for additional training and support. Further studies will determine the impact of PECC characteristics on pediatric readiness.
KW - pediatric emergency care coordinator
KW - pediatric emergency medicine
KW - pediatric emergency preparedness
KW - pediatric readiness
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U2 - 10.1002/emp2.13006
DO - 10.1002/emp2.13006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85165465482
SN - 2688-1152
VL - 4
JO - JACEP Open
JF - JACEP Open
IS - 4
M1 - e13006
ER -