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Physicians express concern over national commission on pediatric emergencies

10.27.2010

Last week, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) expressed concerns about a National Commission on Children and Disasters report that was sent to Congress for review.

According to Sandra Schneider, president of ACEP, the commission did not include adequate representation from emergency department physicians and nurses, who are considered the experts in disaster preparedness. The three doctors who were involved in the creation of the report were all pediatricians who did not normally respond to emergency situations.

"Emergency physicians are at the front lines of responding to disasters, and it's critical to have them represented on this commission," Schneider said. "[These professionals] treat more than 24 million children in emergency departments every year and are the most experienced of all doctors in treating childhood emergencies. Policymakers must include these experts."

The concerns arose from allegedly inaccurate statistics included in the report. Schneider said that despite the paper's claim that only 6 percent of emergency departments are properly equipped to handle young patients, the actual percentage is closer to 90 percent.

She added that the report was also missing important facts from the ACEP/AAP Emergency Information Form and Emergency Preparedness for children who have special healthcare needs. 

Categories: Emergency medicine 

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