Bridging the Gap: Addressing Geographic Inequities in Pediatric Care

Across the United States, access to pediatric inpatient units, specialists, and intensive care units is becoming more concentrated in tertiary children's hospitals. Although this shift enables consolidation of resources and expertise, it also results in a significant access gap for millions of children living in rural communities nationwide. Children in regions lacking local pediatric services face disparities in identification of critical illness, delays in transport to definitive care, and an increased risk of adverse outcomes. These discrepancies raise an important question: How can the pediatric community ensure that every child receives excellent care, regardless of their location?