About Us

1984

The federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program was initially authorized in 1984 as an amendment to the Public Health Service Act to expand and improve pediatric emergency medical care for ill and injured children. Tennessee unsuccessfully applied for one of  the initial set of state grants.

1985

The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities (BLHCF) accepted the recommendations of its Trauma Center Task Force to promulgate specific rules for trauma center designation.

1987

The first trauma center inspections are completed and reported to the BLHCF. The Board delayed action due to multiple challenges from various hospitals. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital commences legal action resulting in the BLHCF creating a Pediatric Trauma Center Task Force to recommend rules for the designation of pediatric trauma centers

1988

The state trauma system is inaugurated when the BLHCF designated 11 hospitals as trauma centers.

1989

The Pediatric Trauma Guidelines are adopted by the BLHCF.

1990

The BLHCF designated the first pediatric trauma centers. The voluntary program only attracted three hospitals in Eastern Tennessee to participate.

The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities appointed a Trauma Care Advisory Council (TCAC) to oversee, monitor and amend the Tennessee trauma system.  A pediatric surgeon is the only representative for children’s needs.

1991

The Tennessee chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP) petitioned the BLHCF regarding pediatric representation in the governance of the trauma system. The BLHCF decides to create a subcommittee of the TCAC, the Subcommittee on Pediatric Emergency Care (SPEC). At TNAAP’s recommendation, the mission of the SPEC includes all pediatric emergent conditions, including trauma.

The SPEC developed a concurrent reporting relationship to the EMS Board.

1993

The EMS Board promulgated the first rules for pediatric equipment on emergency ambulances based on recommendations from the SPEC.

The Institute of Medicine published “Emergency Medical Services for Children”, its landmark report on the state of pediatric emergency and critical care in the United States. The report finds that the advances in emergency care, including trauma, made by the development of emergency and trauma care systems have not been realized for pediatric patients. The IOM recommends the creation of federal and state Emergency Medical Services for Children programs. The report stimulates the leadership of the SPEC, with the strong support of state EMS Director Joe Phillips, to expand its membership and adopt the development of an EMSC program for Tennessee as its focal mission.

9/1994

SPEC received an implementation grant for Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS-C) from the federal Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) to assess the impact of pediatric-specific education and equipment on pre-hospital and emergency department provider services in 10 targeted rural Tennessee counties.

9/1995

Data collection in the targeted counties began.  In addition, provider education courses and injury prevention programs (through the news media)  were initiated.

4/1997

SPEC sponsored the first EMS-C consensus meeting to develop the TN EMSC program convened at Fall Creek Falls State Park. 

Through a facilitated consensus process, multiple agencies/organizations from state government, university programs, children’s hospitals, pre-hospital medical services, and the private sector explored common thoughts on the past, present and future needs to provide ideal pediatric health are across the state. A plan is developed to institutionalize EMS-C in Tennessee through the legislation of minimum standards of preparedness, the development of standardized educational curriculum for providers, and to develop a not-for-profit agency that would advocate for an improved system through public policy and raising funds for programs.

1997 

Funded the “Smart Parents = Safe Children” Injury Prevention Resource Guide, distributed through the state PTA.

10/1997 

SPEC held a planning retreat at the Maxwell House in Nashville, Tennessee to plan strategies to achieve the EMS-C goals. Five committees addressed the specific issues:

• The Governance Committee of SPEC is to develop guidelines for minimum educational and equipment standards based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• The Provider Education Committee of SPEC is to:  1) define the initial  and continuing educational requirements for pre-hospital providers, which will be based in the state community colleges; 2) draft a pediatric educational course for physicians and nurses which will unite the curriculum content, syllabus and slides of the North Carolina EMS-C course with the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course of the American Heart Association; and 3) fund train-the-trainer courses for the implementation of these educational initiatives.

• The Family Center Care Committee of SPEC is to focus on the recognition of healthcare needs of special needs children and the disenfranchised and incorporate their needs into the pediatric emergency care rules and regulations.

• The Community Outreach Committee of SPEC is to address the issues of injury prevention through public education, to advocate the integration of the Special Kids Information Program (SKIP) into local EMS systems, and to encourage the adoption of injury prevention programs in the public school system.

• The Advocacy Committee is to: 1) spear-head a legislative initiative to mandate that all health care facilities and pre-hospital provider services participate at a voluntarily selected level of care; and 2) evaluate future resources of funding including the development of a 501 (c) 3 foundation.

6/1998

The Tennessee legislature unanimously enacted legislation directing the Board for Licensing of Healthcare Facilities (BLHCF) and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board to “promulgate regulatory standards to ensure the adequacy of emergency medical services for children”. These addressed facility and ambulance equipment standards, educational qualifications, and continuing professional educational requirements of facility and ambulance personnel.  SPEC became the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Care (CoPEC), with direct reporting responsibilities to the BLHCF and the EMS Board.  CoPEC was charged with the responsibility for drafting the guidelines document and its interpretative standards.

7/1998

The Tennessee Dept. of Health Traumatic Brain-injury Program funded CoPEC in partnership with the Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHAT) and the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA), a grant to disseminate educational materials and provide a PALS training course to 35 rural not-for-profit healthcare facilities and ambulances services which could not bear the financial burden to institute the state mandated educational programs.

1/1999

CoPEC completed the Tennessee EMS-C interpretative standards.  The BLHCF was slated to begin site visits of healthcare facilities in June.

Spring 99

Tennessee EMS-C was invited by the Blair House to participate in the Gore Family Re-Union “Efficient Links between People and Neighborhoods: Transportation, Communication and Access to Technology”

2000

Commissioner of Health, Fredia, Wadley, MD, appointed CoPEC to provide leadership in the planning and securing long-term viability to the complete array of poison control and prevention services in Tennessee.

TN EMSC received the Poison Control Center Emergency Stabilization Program grant awarded from HRSA in the amount of $350,000

3/2000

The EMSC National Hero Awards were given by Health and Human Services and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to:

• Governor Don Sundquist (awarded an EMSC National Hero Award for State Governor )

• Rhonda G. Phillippi, RN (awarded an EMSC National Hero Award for Project Coordinator of Distinction)

6/2000

CoPEC published the NC/TN EMSC Pediatric Emergency Care Course, developed in conjunction with the American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support Course Student and Instructor Manual

10/2000

A consensus meeting of CoPEC at Montgomery Bell State Park convened to “iron the wrinkles” in implementation of EMS-C and to develop a strategic plan for the next 3-5 years

Fall 2000

Site visits to 35 rural not-for-profit hospitals were completed by the four Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Centers of CoPEC. The site visit CRPC Team consisted of a MD, RN, and parent/consumer  Completed the following reviews:

• North Carolina’s ED Preparedness Mock Code Scenario

• Family Centered Care Survey

• Equipment Availability and Physical Site

• Pediatric Facility Notebook Review

12/2000

CoPEC was awarded funding by the State Office of Rural Health to provide a train-the-trainer course in PEPP (Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Providers) and to assist community colleges that taught paramedics the pediatric equipment necessary to deliver the course

Funding was awarded by the State Office of Rural Health to provide pediatric backboards for ambulance services.

2001

TN EMSC facilitated the successful grant applications of nearly a .5 million dollars to the two poison control centers in the state. Southern Poison Control Center and Middle TN Poison Control Centers both received funding awarded from HRSA.

2001

Funded the distribution of Emergency Guidelines for Schools to every public school in TN.

This was endorsed and supported by the TN Departments of Health and Education.  This publication included the AAP/ACEP Emergency Information Form that was endorsed by the State 911 Board and chosen as best practice for Foster Care

7/2001

TN EMSC received $35,000 from HRSA to conduct planning meeting utilizing “Future Search to Build a Common Ground for Trauma in TN”. The trauma meeting was held in Nashville, TN Jan. 1- Feb. 2, 2002 at Joe C. Davis Conference Center.

2005 TN EMSC assisted with the “Open Space” meeting to develop a strategic plan for trauma care in TN held May 22nd & 23rd at the State Fire Academy, Bell Buckle, TN.

5/2002

EMSC National Hero Awards given by Health and Human Services and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to:

• Tennessee EMSC for State Achievement

• Dara Howe of TN Family Voices as EMSC Parent Advocate of the Year.

CoPEC developed and published the Student Health Information Plans (SHIPS) with the TN Association of School Nurses for the following disease processes:

• Asthma

• Diabetes

• Sickle-cell anemia

• Cardiac disorders

• Seizures

• Severe allergies

Fall 2002

Held the inaugural “Advancing the Frontiers of Pediatric Emergency Care” conference, jointly with the TN Chapter of the AAP in Knoxville; hosted by East Tennessee Children's Hospital.

Fall Fling Fundraiser with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital held in Knoxville in conjunction with the conference.

Inaugural presentation of the Joseph Weinberg, MD Leadership Award presented to Joseph Weinberg, MD.

Inaugural presentation of the Advocate of Children Award presented to David Brown, of Conaway Brown Ad Agency

Fall 2003

Held the “Advancing the Frontiers of Pediatric Emergency Care” conference, jointly with the TN Chapter of the AAP, in Memphis; hosted by LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.

Special Kids Information Program (SKIP) introduced to advance awareness of special needs children within EMS

2004

CoPEC insured universal public access to a certified poison control system for all Tennessee’s citizens

Fall 2004

Held the “Advancing the Frontiers of Pediatric Emergency Care” conference, jointly with the TN Chapter of the AAP, in Nashville; hosted by Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

7/11/05 

The TN EMSC Foundation received tax exempt status from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

10/2005

Held the “Advancing the Frontiers of Pediatric Emergency Care” conference,  jointly with the TN Chapter of the AAP, in Chattanooga; hosted by T. C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital

Bidz for Kidz Fundraiser with T. C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga
                 
Joseph Weinberg, MD Leadership Award presented to Joseph Childs, MD of East TN Children’s Hospital

Advocate for Children Award presented to Jayant K. Deshpande, MD, MPH of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

9/2006 

The Foundation was awarded funding by the State Office of Hospital Preparedness.
The Department of Health identified four major components:

• To evaluate Pediatric Disaster Readiness by

• Each health care facility completing a survey

• Review pediatric activity by facility

• Conduct site visits to non-pediatric hospitals with high pediatric volumes for surge capacity

• Develop a pediatric triage plan for the Department of Health and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security’s Hospital Regions

• Evaluate the need for additional equipment and/or training of hospital personnel

• Provide a web-base pediatric educational tool box with the following topics

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear agents preparedness

• Children with special healthcare needs

• School preparedness

• Family preparedness

• Produce reference guides for standard protocols for pediatric resuscitation and initial treatment in the event of disaster

• Review pediatric equipment for hospital and ambulances and pediatric education training for professionals.

11/2006

Held the “Update on Acute and Emergency Care Pediatrics” conference, jointly with the TN Chapter of the AAP, at the Marriott in Knoxville; hosted by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Jump Shots for Tots Fundraiser with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital held at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville
                 
Joseph Weinberg, MD Leadership Award presented to J. Michael “Mick” Connors, MD of East TN Children’s Hospital

Advocate for Children Award presented to Anne Cowan, MSN, ANP