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Standardized Training for Physicians Practicing Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care
Sarah Tabbutt1, Catherine Krawczeski2, Mary McBride3
1Univeristy of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA.
Insights
Standardized training for pediatric cardiac critical care is crucial. This study developed learning objectives and requirements to improve pediatric cardiac intensive care medicine training and certification oversight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Medical Education
- Cardiology
Background:
- Critically ill children are primarily treated in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), neonatal ICUs, and cardiac ICUs.
- While neonatology and general critical care have standardized training and certification through ACGME and ABP, pediatric cardiac critical care lacks this oversight.
- This gap highlights a need for structured training in pediatric cardiac intensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the lack of standardized training and certification in pediatric cardiac critical care.
- To develop a foundational curriculum and requirements for pediatric cardiac critical care fellowship programs.
- To pave the way for future accreditation and certification in this specialized field.
Main Methods:
- A taskforce of pediatric cardiac intensivists, including directors of all 4th-year training programs, was assembled.
- Modified Delphi methodology was employed to develop consensus on key training components.
- Curricula from 24 fellowship programs and existing guidelines were reviewed.
Main Results:
- Learning objectives for pediatric cardiac critical care training were defined.
- Essential rotational and institutional requirements for training programs were established.
- A framework for standardized training in pediatric cardiac intensive care was created.
Conclusions:
- Standardized training in pediatric cardiac critical care is paramount for optimizing patient outcomes.
- The developed framework is a crucial first step toward formal accreditation and certification.
- This initiative aims to enhance the quality of care for critically ill children with heart conditions.
Objectives:
In the vast majority of Children's Hospitals, the critically ill patient can be found in one of three locations: the PICU, the neonatal ICU, and the cardiac ICU. Training, certification, and maintenance of certification for neonatology and critical care medicine are over seen by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Pediatrics. There is no standardization of training or oversight of certification and maintenance of certification for pediatric cardiac critical care.
Data Sources:
The curricula from the twenty 4th year pediatric cardiac critical care training programs were collated, along with the learning objectives from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society published "Curriculum for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine."
Study Selection:
This initiative is endorsed by the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society as a first step toward Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education oversight of training and American Board of Pediatrics oversight of maintenance of certification.
Data Extraction:
A taskforce was established of cardiac intensivists, including the directors of all 4th year pediatric cardiac critical care training programs.
Data Synthesis:
Using modified Delphi methodology, learning objectives, rotational requirements, and institutional requirements for providing training were developed.
Conclusions:
In the current era of increasing specialized care in pediatric cardiac critical care, standardized training for pediatric cardiac critical care is paramount to optimizing outcomes.
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