Emergency Preparedness Improvement in Pediatric Primary Care Offices: A Simulation-Based Multicenter Study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Primary Care Practice Management

Background:

• Pediatric primary care offices face challenges in emergency preparedness and provider confidence.
• Collaboration with academic medical centers (AMCs) has previously enhanced emergency departments' pediatric readiness.
• A model involving in situ simulation and AMC collaboration was explored to improve pediatric emergency preparedness in primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance pediatric emergency preparedness in primary care offices.
• To improve the quality of care for pediatric medical emergencies in primary care settings.
• To evaluate a collaborative model with AMCs for improving pediatric emergency readiness.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, prospective study involving 21 pediatric primary care offices partnered with AMCs.
• Utilized a 3-phase approach: baseline assessment, intervention, and follow-up assessment over 6-10 months.
• Measured emergency preparedness using an American Academy of Pediatrics-derived checklist and quality of care via in situ simulations of common pediatric emergencies.

Main Results:

• Median emergency preparedness scores significantly improved from 68% to 82% (P=.02).
• Median performance scores for simulated respiratory distress improved from 50% to 82% (P<.001).
• Median performance scores for simulated seizures improved from 42% to 85% (P<.001).

Conclusions:

• A collaborative model integrating in situ simulation and AMC partnerships effectively enhanced emergency preparedness in pediatric primary care.
• The quality of care during simulated pediatric emergencies significantly improved in participating offices.
• This approach demonstrates a viable strategy for improving pediatric emergency readiness in primary care settings, with future work focusing on expansion.