In emergencies, children have unique health needs. They require special equipment, medications, protocols, and skills. But because pediatric emergencies represent <25% of all visits, emergency department (ED) and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies' systems of care may not be designed to meet pediatric needs.
The EMSC Program is the only federal program dedicated to ensuring our nation’s emergency care system – including more than 5,000 EDs and 15,000 EMS agencies – is well-prepared to care for children.
EMSC provides 60+ grants that touch nearly every state, territory, and jurisdiction in the U.S. The grant dollars fund a vast range of activities, including: research, national assessments, educational resources, workforce training opportunities, and more to empower emergency clinicians to provide the best care to every child, every day.
New research shows the impact of this work: an ED being well-prepared for pediatric patients is associated with the potential for 76% lower mortality rate in ill children and a 60% lower mortality rate in injured children. That translates into the potential for 2,100 children's lives saved – annually.
For details about EMSC's impact, explore the fact sheets below.
EMSC has made great strides despite limited resources over the last four decades. Its yearly budget of $24 million represents approximately 0.0005% of national health expenditure annually.
During reauthorization, Congressional committees review the program and vote on its parameters and funding levels.
How the process works: A bill reauthorizing the EMSC Program is introduced in the House of Representatives and voted on by members of the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee. A companion bill is then introduced in the Senate and voted on by members of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. If the bill passes in both committees, it goes to the full House and Senate for a vote. If it passes both chambers, it goes to the president for signature.
The EMSC Program collaborates with and is supported by a number of national organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and Emergency Nurses Association. Members of these organizations work to ensure sustainability of the program.
Note: EMSC grant recipients can engage in advocacy (providing policymakers with general education and information about a topic, like pediatric emergency care), however, they must not engage in lobbying (advocating for or against a specific piece of legislation or policy). The full HHS policy for grantees is available here.
