Pediatric emergency care coordinator workforce: A survey study

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Care
• Healthcare Workforce Studies

Background:

• Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECC) are crucial for improving pediatric readiness in emergency departments (EDs).
• Understanding the characteristics, responsibilities, and challenges of the PECC workforce is essential for optimizing their impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the role characteristics, responsibilities, barriers, and threats faced by Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECC) nationwide.
• To explore the relationship between ED pediatric patient volume and PECC role characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of PECCs participating in the Emergency Medical Services for Children PECC Workforce and Trauma Collaboratives (2021-2022).
• EDs were categorized by annual pediatric patient volume (low, medium, medium-high, high).
• Trend tests were used to analyze the association between pediatric volume and PECC characteristics.

Main Results:

• Of 114 respondents, most (75.2%) were nurses. Median hours dedicated to PECC activities significantly increased with pediatric volume (2 hours for low volume to 16 hours for high volume).
• A majority of PECCs reported needing more time (58.4%) and desiring additional training (70.8%). Most (74.6%) believed the role should be paid, though 30.7% reported it was voluntary.
• Key responsibilities included staff education (77.2%) and quality improvement (QI) oversight (72.8%).

Conclusions:

• PECC workforce characteristics differ, but education and QI activities are common across all settings.
• There is a clear need for enhanced training and support for PECCs.
• Future research should investigate how PECC characteristics influence pediatric readiness.