Louisiana Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)

The Bureau of Family Health’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Program, established in 1992 through Louisiana RS 50:1075.4, works to bring together a variety of organizations and constituents, including emergency medical service agencies, emergency departments, healthcare 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

This 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 healthcare system, performs gap analyses, and informs strategic process improvements in emergency medical service agencies and emergency departments to improve pediatric emergency healthcare 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 increase pediatric readiness scores and reduce statewide child morbidity and mortality rates.
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.

The program operates under the guidance and advice of an advisory board. Membership includes:

• Family and community representation
• Medical professionals
• Advocates for children and youth with special health care needs
• Representation from organizations that collaborate to improve pediatric care across Louisiana and the United States, including:
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • National Association of Emergency Medical Physicians
  • National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis and Resource Center
  • National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials
  • Louisiana Emergency Response Network
  • Emergency Nurses Association
  • Louisiana Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
  • Louisiana Hospital Association
  • Louisiana Ambulance Alliance

Past Grants

The Bureau of Family Health was awarded Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Emergency Medical Services for Children Targeted Issues Grant funds for 2019-2023. We represent the only state health department to receive this award. The funding was used to:

• Conduct research about the health outcomes of pediatric patients transported by emergency medical services.
• Develop a statewide consortium of pediatric emergency care coordinators who will provide education, training, and resources related to pediatric emergency care and equipment to emergency medical service agencies.
• Collect and share data from emergency medical service agencies regarding the results and effectiveness of the pediatric emergency care coordinator role and communicate findings to constituents.
• Establish and maintain partnerships that improve pre-hospital pediatric emergency care, reduce medication errors, and increase initiation of appropriate treatment.