Pediatric Readiness
This initiative advocates that emergency care providers have access to appropriate pediatric specific capabilities, training, policies and protocols, equipment, supplies and medications. It ensures EMS agencies, emergency departments and other clinical roles are prepared to provide high-quality emergency care for children and respond to disaster situations. The goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality in ill and injured children.
Each state is required by the Federal Maternal & Child Health Bureau to have a state EMSC program in place and meet federal performance measures. Illinois EMSC was established within the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in 1994. An Illinois EMSC Advisory Board and several committees are in place to assist with these efforts.
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois receives grant funding from IDPH to develop and maintain resources and lend clinical expertise to a number of medical personnel, which can be found on this webpage.
The purpose of these resources is to assist health care providers and organizations to enhance their pediatric readiness.
In addition, pediatric readiness information and resources are also available on the National EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) website.To find continuing medical education course (CME) options, please visit University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria or TRAIN Illinois online. This training is free and accessible to anyone interested in learning more.
- University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria
- TRAIN Illinois
- University of Illinois Public Health Learning
RSV/Bronchiolitis Resources
Due to the rapid rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, there has been an increase in RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in multiple U.S. regions. Clinicians and public health professionals should be aware of increases in respiratory viruses, including RSV. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than age 1 in the United States.
View OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois bronchiolitis presentation. To gain continuing education hours (CME), please access the presentation through UIC Public Health Learning. Continuing education hours are free. You will need to create a free account on the site and search for 'pediatric' in the course search box to access the catalog.
These resources and tools are compiled to support medical personnel in responding to and managing RSV.
- Pediatric Respiratory Resources | EMSC Colorado
- Bronchiolitis Booster Series (AAP Hi-flow training videos)
- Assessment of Pediatric Mild to Moderate Respiratory Distress - Overview | Rise 360 (University of Vermont practice scenarios)
OSF Children's Hospital bronchiolitis protocol
School Nurse Emergency Course
The School Nurse Emergency Care Course (SNEC) course is designed to enhance the assessment, triaging and treatment skills of the school nurse when confronted with the acutely ill or injured student. With the increasing number of urgent health related conditions seen within the changing school environment and the current need to assure disaster preparedness in the school setting, this course will support the school nurse's core knowledge base in responding to these types of situations.
The intent of this course is to provide nurses who work in the school setting with emergency care education and guidelines that they can integrate into their current practice and use to deliver care to the ill or injured student.
This course was developed by experienced school nurses and emergency nurses who are familiar with the unique aspects of emergency care that school nurses may encounter in the school setting.
Successful completion of the course requires completion of all 17 modules, 5 skill demonstration videos, a passing score of at least 84% on the course exam, and completion of the course evaluation.