Caring for kids in the ED can be challenging – they often can’t (or won’t) tell you what’s wrong or where it hurts; they may have trouble sitting still during an exam or procedure; and their screams put everyone on edge. But let’s think about it from their perspective. It must be pretty confusing and frightening at times. Did you ever have to go to the ED as a kid? Do you remember what it was like? We ask some kids to share their thoughts and experiences. Then we get some valuable tips from the experts – Child Life Specialists, Pediatric ED Nurses, and Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians, including our own Dr. Julia Magaña. Learn what you can do to improve the ED experience for both you and your young patients.

What tips do you have for taking care of kids in the ED? Did you try any of the things we mentioned in this episode? If so, did they work for you? We want to know! Share your thoughts on social media, @empulsepodcast, or on our website, ucdavisem.com. 

Hosts:

Dr. Julia Magaña, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guests:

The kids: Isa, Jordan, Benny, Katelyn, Wesley and Elia

UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine Child Life Specialists, Nurses and Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians.

Resources:

DistrACTION Cards that Julia mentioned

Information and protocols for using intranasal medications at www.intranasal.net

Wong-Baker FACES pain scale

FLACC Score for pain in infants

ACEP Guidelines for Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department (2013)

An Evidence-Based Approach to Minimizing Acute Procedural Pain in the Emergency Department and Beyond.

Ali S, McGrath T, Drendel AL. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2016 Jan;32(1):36-42; quiz 43-4. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000669. Review.

Patient- and family-centered care of children in the emergency department.

Dudley N, Ackerman A, Brown KM, Snow SK; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine; American College of Emergency Physicians Pediatric Emergency Medicine Committee; Emergency Nurses Association Pediatric Committee.

Pediatrics. 2015 Jan;135(1):e255-72. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-3424.

Ten Practical Ways to Make Your ED Practice Less Painful and More Child-Friendly

Amy L.DrendelDO, MS*SaminaAliMDCM, Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Volume 18, Issue 4, December 2017, Pages 242-255

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Ski and CME! Join us for the UC Davis Emergency Medicine Winter Conference, March 4th-8th at the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe.

Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Audio Productions for audio production services.