New National Statement Sets Lifesaving Standards for ED Pediatric Readiness

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Jan. 20, 2026) – A new joint statement released Tuesday outlines what every emergency department needs in order to be ready to care for kids – an effort that could save more than 2,100 children’s lives nationwide each year.

The joint statement, “Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department,” was developed by experts from the Emergency Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Surgeons. It spells out the critical steps emergency departments can take to become fully prepared for children’s health needs and is an update to recommendations previously revised in 2009 and 2018.

“More than 80 percent of children who come to an emergency department go to a local community hospital, not a children’s hospital,” said Kate Remick, MD, lead author of the statement. “Every emergency department should be fully prepared for kids, no matter how often they see them. These recommendations save lives.”

The statement informs the work of the National Pediatric Readiness Project, an initiative of the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program – part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration – in collaboration with multidisciplinary organizations. The NPRP aims to support the more than 5,000 emergency departments nationwide in improving pediatric capabilities through self-assessments, benchmarking, checklists, quality dashboards and other resources.

“Every minute counts for parents and caregivers seeking emergency care when their child suffers a sudden illness or injury. Improving pediatric readiness in all emergency departments offers reassurance to families, while instilling confidence in emergency care providers, that these young patients will receive the appropriate, necessary treatment as quickly as possible,” said ENA President Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC. “The updated recommendations, which include a pediatric readiness checklist, are vital to ensuring EDs are ready for those crucial moments when kids need us most.”

Research shows high pediatric readiness is associated with up to 76 percent lower mortality risk among critically ill and injured children. The cost needed to achieve high readiness is relatively low, between $4 to $48 per pediatric patient, depending on patient volume.

Many emergency departments face systemic challenges – workforce shortages, competing demands, and strained resources – that make it challenging to meet national standards. But the revised statement emphasizes pediatric readiness is vital and achievable for all emergency departments, including freestanding emergency departments, rural emergency hospitals, and critical access hospitals. 

The recommendations continue to emphasize the importance of appointing both nurse and physician pediatric emergency care coordinators to lead readiness efforts within emergency departments. Updates include:

• Increased focus on pediatric-specific clinical practice guidelines and decision support tools for common conditions to standardize care.
• A list of nationally vetted pediatric quality measures, including targeted measures by condition.
• New emphasis on the need for multidisciplinary review of all pediatric deaths and adverse events to assist emergency departments in local quality improvement efforts.
• A deeper focus on pediatric mental health, including universal suicide screening in teens.
• Reinforcement of the importance of immediately available, portable, weight-based pediatric resuscitation carts and use of medication dosage tools to avoid manual calculations.
• Broader expectations for pediatric considerations in disaster preparedness.

To help emergency departments implement these recommendations, the statement includes a Pediatric Readiness Checklist. The statement is accompanied by a technical report that outlines the scientific evidence supporting each recommendation.

The new statement sets the stage for the upcoming nationwide NPRP Assessment period, slated to open on March 3. Emergency departments will be assessed on a 100-point scale and receive a score, benchmarking information and a gap report identifying areas for improvement. 

The previous assessment published in 2023 noted improvements in five of six categories measured since 2013, including an increase in the number of emergency departments with pediatric equipment and supplies – from 90 percent to 97 percent – and the number of emergency departments with a pediatric mental health care policy – rising from 44 percent to 73 percent.

“The 2026 assessment is our chance to see where we stand—and where we can do better,” said Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, co-author of the statement. “By participating in the National Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment, you can identify what is needed for your ED to be fully ready to care for children.”

Hospitals can learn more by registering for a free webinar on Feb. 12 and can start preparing now using NPRP resources, including a toolkit, checklist, and more, at pediatricreadiness.org.