What the study found
The policy statement says that although pediatric emergencies are not common in medical offices, offices that care for children and adolescents can prepare for them. It also says that preparation should be individualized because offices differ in location, setting, patient population, and distance to an emergency department or hospital.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the policy statement and companion technical report can be used as a guide to help create an individualized approach to office emergencies. They also note that an accompanying checklist summarizes steps medical offices can take to assess readiness for pediatric emergencies.
What the researchers tested
This is a policy statement that updates the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2007 practice guideline, "Preparation for Emergencies in the Offices of Pediatricians and Pediatric Primary Care Providers." The abstract says a companion technical report provides explanations and evidence for the recommendations.
What worked and what didn't
The abstract does not report experimental results. It states that the updated recommendations are intended for both primary care and subspecialty practices and that the checklist can help offices assess readiness.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations, outcome data, or comparative testing. It also does not provide the specific recommendations in the summary available here.
Key points
- Pediatric emergencies are uncommon in medical offices, but offices can prepare for them.
- Preparation should be tailored to the office's setting, patient population, location, and distance from emergency care.
- This statement updates the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2007 guidance on office preparedness.
- A companion technical report provides explanations and evidence for the recommendations.
- An accompanying checklist is said to help offices assess readiness for pediatric emergencies.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- AAP updates guidance on pediatric office emergency preparedness
- Authors:
- Patricia Cantrell, Jennifer Hoffmann, Matthew Yuknis, David Mathison, Lisa Kafer, Alisa Skatrud, Jesse M. Hackell, Yvette M. Almendarez, Patricia E. Cantrell, Carolyn Cleary, Elizabeth Hawse, Lisa Kafer, Seth Kaplan, Tomitra Latimer, Robert H. Wiskind, Alisa Skatrud, Toni Gross, Sylvia Owusu‐Ansah, Kerry Caperell, Jennifer Hoffmann, Jennifer E. McCain, Christian D. Pulcini, Mohsen Saidinejad, David Schnadower, Caleb E. Ward, Muhammad Waseem, Section on Urgent Care Medicine, John Joseph Santos, Danielle Casher, Jennifer M. Collier-Madon, Jennifer K. Johnson, David J. Mathison, Amanda R. Nedved, Amy E. Pattishall
- Institutions:
- Colorado Permanente Medical Group, Colorado Permanente Medical Group, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Laboratoire d'Informatique Algorithmique: Fondements et Applications, Lurie Children's Hospital, North Shore Diabetes and Endocrine Associates, North Shore Diabetes and Endocrine Associates, Riley Hospital for Children, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, University Children’s Hospital Bern
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-20
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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