Baptist Health Hardin achieves pediatric readiness certification for emergency care
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY (Dec. 18, 2024) - Baptist Health Hardin is proud to announce that its emergency department has been named a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department by the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children Program and the Kentucky Emergency Care Coalition.
The prestigious certification recognizes hospitals that meet the stringent criteria established by the Kentucky Emergency Care Coalition and adhere to national recommendations and guidelines for pediatric emergency care.
The pediatric readiness certification is a huge step forward in our emergency care,” said Baptist Health Hardin President Robert Ramey. “With more and more families moving into central Kentucky, the importance of pediatric care in our region is more critical than ever. We want parents to know that Baptist Health Hardin is fully equipped to assess, stabilize and treat their children in any emergency.
To achieve pediatric readiness certification, hospitals must meet specific requirements in training, processes, and policies, and must have specific equipment and resources available to provide specialized care to children under the age of 18. This includes equipment sized for children of all ages, and training on equipment use and dosage of medication based on the child’s weight and age. Staff in pediatric ready hospitals must participate in ongoing evidence-based pediatric education to maintain pediatric ready status.
According to the National Pediatric Readiness Project, studies have shown that pediatric ready hospitals have up to 76% lower mortality rates for sick or injured children.
“For Baptist Health Hardin, the certification means that parents can feel good that their children will receive specialized care without the need to travel,” said Tara Davenport, MSN, RN, a nurse educator who played a key role in the certification process. “When children are treated close to home, families typically feel more stability in their daily lives, including work, caring for other family members, and maintaining routines. This familiarity and convenience are invaluable during stressful times.”
The hospital has been working toward the certification for over three years to prepare for the evaluation process, to help ensure that the site visit and survey process would flow smoothly.
Baptist Health Foundation Hardin also contributed significantly to the process, making strides toward preparing the hospital’s emergency department for certification through the generous support of Kosair for Kids, WHAS Crusade for Children, and individual donors throughout the region. Donations have funded essential equipment such as laryngoscopes for accurate intubation, syringe pumps for safe medication administration, and comprehensive staff training.
Our Emergency Department leadership has worked tirelessly to achieve this certification, securing the necessary resources and conducting staff training, and doing whatever was needed to make this goal a reality,” said Ramey. “I would like to congratulate all who have been a part of this outstanding achievement.
Baptist Health Hardin’s emergency department treats more than 73,000 patients annually, 13% of whom are under 18 years old. This includes children who are critically ill, or have experienced abuse or neglect, underscoring the critical nature of specialized pediatric care.