Pittsburgh EMS recognized for quality of emergency pediatric care - TribLIVE

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Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services was recognized Tuesday for reaching the highest level of training in pediatric care, based on the state’s Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program.

Duane Spencer, manager for the EMS for Children Program in the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, presented a certificate to bureau leaders for completing the program. In the advanced training curriculum for EMS workers providing emergency pediatric care, Pittsburgh EMS reached the “Expert” level of the five-tiered program, the highest possible level.

Mayor Bill Peduto also praised the bureau, crediting the people “on the ground” for their work combating the coronavirus.

“We have a medical community in the city of Pittsburgh that is world-class and that most cities of our size would only dream of having,” Peduto said.

EMS for Children is designed to ensure children have equal access to quality EMS no matter where they live in the United States, setting standards for care that EMS agencies can train and aspire to. Spencer said it is the only program that specifically focuses on the distinct needs of children in emergency medical systems.

At the “Expert” level, Pittsburgh EMS has met several standards of care, including heavy participation in community outreach targeting pediatric activities, extensive training and continued education focused on pediatric care, passing child abuse background clearances and more. The final requirements to achieve “Expert” status are to have at least one child passenger safety technician on board each ambulance and to have regular carseat checks, hosting at least one large public event each year.

Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said when he was working in EMS, he always dreaded a pediatric emergency. They come with different challenges, Hissrich said — there is more crying, more panic and children are not always able to communicate their pain or illness. Pediatric training is “some of the most important training our EMS providers can take,” he said, and the state’s recognition is reflective of extraordinary growth in the bureau.

“We’ve been around EMS since the ’70s and ’80s, and it’s just amazing to see the progression of skills that paramedics and EMTs have obtained,” Hissrich said.

It used to take several hundred hours to become a paramedic, he said — now it takes thousands, as the responsibilities of EMS workers to their patients grows.

“We’ve expanded our role not only to the response of EMS, but to prevention,” Hissrich said.

EMS Chief Ron Romano said he was grateful for the recognition and is proud of the achievement of “keeping Pittsburgh EMS progressive, especially in these trying times.”

“And many thanks to the paramedics doing this every day, making this accomplishment happen and making us all proud,” Romano said.

Peduto lauded the bureau for achieving its new status, especially amid the difficulties of a pandemic and in time for National EMS Week.

“Our EMS Bureau is viewed on a global basis,” Peduto said, “and that type of recognition is only enhanced by the recognition today by the Department of Health.”

Teghan Simonton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Teghan at 724-226-4680, tsimonton@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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