Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Pediatric Readiness in Wisconsin's Community Emergency Departments.

BACKGROUND: Quality pediatric emergency care across the United States is inconsistent. Geographic distance, lack of resources and education can affect the care. This project set out to improve pediatric readiness in at least 20 Wisconsin emergency departments (EDs) statewide. METHODS: The program developed a pediatric readiness guide, recruited EDs to participate, and implemented pediatric readiness interventions within the EDs. Each ED completed the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) Assessment at the start of the program and a postimplementation assessment at the end, with the goal to improve ED pediatric readiness scores by 10% or more. RESULTS: Over 36 months, 23 EDs from diverse settings participated in the program. The median [IQR] NPRP score increased from 60.2 (51.5-74.2) to 81.1 (74.7-87.8). Nineteen EDs improved by over 10%. DISCUSSION: The targeted intervention improved pediatric readiness in 20 EDs from diverse settings and emphasizes the role of leadership and structured guidance to improve care provided to children in Wisconsin.