Data Committee
The EMSC Data Committee is responsible for supporting the ideas and actions of TN EMSC. We accomplish this task through searching the medical literature for evidence-based practices and analysis of statewide databases. We also aim to help EMSC partners answer their research questions either through accessing existing data or designing data collection tools for their specific projects. Our current efforts are aimed at linking UB92 records of children from transfers or repeat admissions to identify patients and conditions which increase vulnerability for error or morbidity.
Disaster Committee
Recent natural disasters and events of terrorism and war have made citizens and healthcare workers aware of the lack of pediatric emergency preparedness during these events. Children have many vulnerabilities that put them at higher risk during a disaster event due to the developmental process of children regarding mobility, speech, and the limited ability to follow multiple step directions. The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “ In addition to the unique pediatric issues involved in general emergency preparedness, several additional issues related to terrorism preparedness must be considered, including the unique vulnerabilities of children to various agents as well as the limited availability of age- and weight-appropriate antidotes and treatments. Although children may respond more rapidly to therapeutic intervention, they are at the same time more susceptible to various agents and conditions and more likely to deteriorate if not monitored carefully.”
The Disaster Committee was designed to help improve the disaster response in the State of Tennessee for pediatric patients. This multi-disciplinary team of professionals strives to develop courses that are for families, healthcare providers, and other professionals who may be expected to respond in the event of large-scale disasters. Each course has a pediatric focus in keeping with the mission of TN EMSC; however, much of the information applies equally well to non-pediatric patients. In addition to the learning modules, the committee completed an evaluation of the pediatric disaster readiness of health care facilities in the state.
Education Committee
The Education Committee is made up of a multi-disciplinary group that strives to enhance the emergency and injury care for children in the state of Tennessee. This committee is comprised of physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, parents, teachers, hospital administrators, etc. working together to help increase the knowledge base of care providers to the pediatric patients whether in the hospital, field, school, or home setting.
Our goal is to create and provide all levels and disciplines with pediatric specific education for the care of critically ill or injured children. With this pediatric specialty group we can evaluate needs and specific education to ensure that the most up to date and leading practices of pediatric medicine are taught and provided. We hope that by improving the access and quality of education about the specific differences of the pediatric patient, we can improve the outcomes of all our kids in Tennessee.
Standards Committee
The responsibility of the Standards Committee is to develop and revise systems of acute and critical pediatric care. This can include systems of pediatric care within health care facilities (hospitals and emergency departments) as well as those of the emergency medical services (ambulance services). An example of this work is the recent revision of the Standards for Pediatric Emergency Care Facilities presented to the Tennessee Department of Health Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities in February 2008. The systems of pediatric care that this committee develops helps hospitals and ambulance services to provide a high level of care to the children of Tennessee. These systems help ensure that both properly trained health care providers (doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel, etc.) and special pediatric equipment are available to care for children who are sick.
