The Gold Standard

Baxter Health earns prestigious designation from Arkansas Emergency Medical Services for Children 

Baxter Health has joined an elite group as one of only three medical institutions in Arkansas to receive the highest Pediatric Readiness designation from Arkansas Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC). 

In January, the hospital announced that the Cline Emergency Center had been awarded the Gold Tier designation for Pediatric Readiness by EMSC’s State Partnership Program, officially naming it a Pediatric Ready Hospital. This designation is given to health care institutions that provide the highest quality care for children in emergency situations. 

“Cline Emergency Center has found a passion for improving pediatric care,” said Sarah Dewey, RN, PECC. “All of the diligent work provided by our team—including respiratory, EMS, pharmacy, med/surg, and OB/nursery—has allowed us to set a higher standard of care for our pediatric patients.” 

Addressing a National Concern 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that access to high-quality pediatric emergency care has reached crisis levels in some parts of the United States. The organization cites the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which found that the nation’s 5,000 emergency departments handle more than 141 million patient visits annually, with approximately 20% of those visits coming from children younger than 15. 

Despite this, 70% of children needing emergency care are treated in emergency departments that lack a physician or nurse pediatric emergency care coordinator, according to a recent issue of “Pediatrics,” the AAP’s newsletter. In other words, about half of the nation’s ERs do not have a dedicated pediatric care plan or staff trained specifically in pediatric emergency medicine. 

“Children have unique anatomic, physiologic, developmental and medical needs that differ from those of adults,” the AAP wrote. “These differences must be considered when developing emergency services, training ED staff, and stocking equipment, medications and supplies.” 

Commitment to Excellence 

To address the growing number of pediatric patients at the Cline Emergency Center, Baxter Health formed a specialized team, led by Dewey and Caleb Pingel, MD, FACEP, Cline Emergency Center medical director, to enhance pediatric emergency care. The team also included: Kelly Dicks, MSN, RN, Cline Emergency Center director; Robyn Pyle, RN; Sierra Small, APRN; and Amorie Smith, APRN. 

Together, they reviewed policies, procedures, equipment and medications in collaboration with other departments to improve pediatric care and ensure the highest quality service for young patients. 

After a year of dedication and strategic improvements, Baxter Health’s Cline Emergency Center met and exceeded all criteria, solidifying its position as a leader in pediatric emergency care in the region. 

“As an emergency department that treats patients of all demographics, we are raising the standard for care delivery to a new level of excellence in pediatric care,” Dewey said. “Receiving this recognition is such an honor.”