St. Matthews Fire & EMS Award of Excellence in Pediatric Emergency Care

The St. Matthews Fire Department is honored to receive the “Award of Excellence” designation for 2020 by The Kentucky EMS for Children (KYEMSC) Program.

The KYEMSC program works to decrease pediatric mortality and morbidity due to severe illness or injury by enhancing pediatric emergency care services throughout the commonwealth. It does this by building partnerships across the continuum of emergency care, offering special programs and training opportunities, and through policy development

“Children make up a small number of the patients we see in EMS. While that is clearly a good thing, it also means we have less direct experience in meeting their unique needs. EMS providers must make a deliberate effort to remain proficient in caring for children,” said KYEMSC Project Director Morgan Scaggs. “These agencies have demonstrated that they are committed to improving emergency pediatric care and they are raising the bar for everyone.

KYEMSC developed the Voluntary EMS Pediatric Recognition program to acknowledge EMS agencies that go beyond what is required by the state in pediatric care by completing the additional program requirements.

To be recognized, an agency must designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator to ensure integration of the unique needs of pediatric patients into all aspects of emergency care, comply with national recommendations for pediatric equipment carried on the ambulance and engage in pediatric-focused community outreach activities. There are also requirements for additional pediatric-related continuing education and annual demonstration of pediatric skill competency for all EMTs and paramedics.

This is the third year for the recognition program and all participating agencies will need to reapply annually to demonstrate their continued commitment to excellence in pediatric emergency care. KYEMSC commends the recipient agencies for their dedication to meeting the needs of the children in their communities.”