Pediatric emergency medicine practice
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There are approximately 25 million emergency department visits by children each year in the United States. It can be challenging for healthcare providers to maintain the readiness of emergency departments in terms of equipment availability, policies and procedures for the care of children, and quality improvement for pediatric patients. ⋯ In the framework of the current healthcare system that is wrought with overcrowding, underfunding, and highly variable pediatric capabilities, children are arguably at the greatest risk for medical error. This issue reviews the current state of pediatric readiness in emergency departments, the necessary steps to ensure day-to-day readiness, the published guidelines for pediatric readiness, and systems-based innovations in pediatric readiness.