The Construction and Evaluation of a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Bootcamp for Graduating Emergency Medicine Residents

Clinical rotations during Emergency Medicine (EM) residency do not provide exposure to the full breadth of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM). Caring for critically ill pediatric patients can be challenging, particularly for newly graduated EM physicians. We developed an educational PEM bootcamp for EM senior residents from a diverse group of training programs to address gaps caused by variability in experiences.

Following Kern's methodology, we based the bootcamp curriculum on results of a previously published needs assessment and educator perspectives. Graduating residents from the EM programs affiliated with our pediatric emergency department (ED) were invited to a one-day PEM bootcamp consisting of team-based simulations, skills stations, and didactics. A retrospective pre-post survey at the day's end assessed for improvement in participants' perceived preparedness for pediatric emergencies and knowledge of PEM topics taught. Nine months later, participants were invited to a follow-up survey to assess the impact of the bootcamp on their transition to independent practice.

From 2022 to 2024, 98 residents from 9 distinct programs attended the bootcamp and 84 (86%) completed the end of day survey. There was an increase in the proportion of respondents reporting preparedness to manage pediatric patients, to stabilize pediatric airways, and to perform procedures reviewed. Comments identified respiratory distress management and cardiac disease recognition as lessons to incorporate into future practice. Forty-three participants from the 2022-2024 cohorts completed follow-up surveys. Thirty-seven (86%) reported the bootcamp aided their transition to independent practice.

This annual one-day PEM bootcamp for our graduating EM residents improved participants' perceived preparedness for pediatric emergencies, bolstered PEM knowledge, and assisted transition to independent practice. This resource-intensive program is sustained by a dedicated team and continued buy-in from a wide variety of EM residency programs and adjusted annually in response to participant feedback.