Louisiana Emergency Medical Services for Children Program

The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Program, established through Louisiana Revised Statute 50:1075.4 of the 1992 Regular Legislative Session, works to bring together a variety of organizations and constituents, including emergency medical service agencies, emergency departments, health care providers, policymakers, communities, and families, to collaborate on emergency medical services for children centered around:

• Data collection
• Policy development
• Program implementation and guidance
• Statutory considerations
• Provider education
• Medical protocol updates and more

The program operates under the guidance and advice of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee, which provides input and recommendations to improve the quality of emergency medical services for children in Louisiana. Committee members include families, medical professionals, advocates for children and youth with special health care needs, and individuals from organizations working to improve pediatric care in the state and nationwide.

The program seeks to reduce pediatric morbidity and mortality rates caused by acute illnesses and injuries. The program serves all pediatric patients who use the emergency health care system, performs gap analyses, and informs strategic process improvements in emergency medical service agencies and emergency departments to improve pediatric emergency health care in Louisiana.

The core functional goals of the program are to:

1. Increase data-driven decision-making among emergency medical service agencies, hospitals, and key constituents to reduce statewide child morbidity and mortality rates, and increase pediatric readiness scores, which measure how equipped, trained, and organized a facility is to care for critically ill and injured children
2. Improve emergency medical service agency and emergency department practitioner pediatric skills and agency/facility capacity to support successful pediatric emergency outcomes
3. Promote pediatric readiness by reducing barriers and increasing incentive structures for pre-hospital and hospital providers
4. Ensure that pediatric emergency care is integrated into the larger emergency medical services system

Louisiana Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Consortium

The Louisiana Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Consortium provides a forum for collaboration, resource sharing, gathering data for quality improvement, and supporting clinicians and agencies in their pediatric readiness efforts.

The Consortium meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. for monthly Pulse Checks. The standing agenda includes, but is not limited to, the introduction of new members, an open forum, and educational topics.

Emergency department staff, emergency medical service providers, and pediatric emergency care coordinators interested in attending these meetings should contact:

Vincent Trabona | vtrabona@mandevillefire.com | 985-624-6556
Consortium Chairperson
Chief of EMS, Mandeville Fire Department

Mendy Jinks | Mjinks@cpadii.com | 337-274-2318
Consortium Co-Chairperson
Paramedic Supervisor, Cameron Parish Ambulance

Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators

Pediatric emergency care coordinators (often called “pediatric champions”) are designated health care professionals in an emergency department or emergency medical services agency who ensure that organizations follow national guidelines for pediatric emergency care by stocking specialized pediatric equipment, promoting training, and advocating for children’s unique medical needs.