Author: Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Source: Pediatrics, Vol. 104 No. 4 October, 1999, p. e53
The article, a group effort from the AAP's Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, provides recommendation for improving the care of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in the emergency setting. They note that this is important because CSHCN:
"frequently require emergency care for acute life-threatening complications that are unique to their chronic conditions"
and state that
"Emergency care of (CSHCN) is frequently complicated by a lack of a concise summary of their medical condition, precautions needed, and special management plans."
The article outlines the suggested parts of an emergency care plan which includes:
* a standardized form
* a method of identifying at-risk children
* completion of a data set by the child's physician and other health care professionals
* education of families, other caregivers and health care professionals in the use of the plan
* regular updates of the information
* 24-hour access to the information by emergency health care professionals, and
* maintenance of patient confidentiality
Click on the TelAbility Affiliates button on the left hand column of this page to download the emergency information form for children with special needs for your own personal use.
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