Systems-Based Care of the Injured Child: Policy Statement
Injury is the leading cause of death and a frequent cause of disability in children and negatively affects physical health, mental health, and quality of life in both the short- and long-term. The goal of a pediatric trauma system is to optimize the care for children within a state or region encompassing the entire continuum of care regardless of where children live or where traumatic events occur. This continuum includes injury prevention, prehospital care, emergency department care, interfacility transport, acute and critical inpatient care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community and primary care medical home. A systems-based approach requires distinct elements of structure and function to perform together in an interrelated and cohesive manner to improve care quality. In this case, it represents a sequential practice of evidence-based evaluation and management along the continuum of care. To improve outcomes after injury, a cohesive system must effectively provide optimal care for the "right child, at the right place, at the right time" across this continuum.
Authors
- David Schnadower (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7379-7012)
- Caleb E. Ward (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5272-8552)
- Emily C. Krennerich
- Marc P. Michalsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7119-3634)
- Mehul V. Raval (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1527-2661)
- Terri McFadden
- Michael H. Stroud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9819-471X)
- Mary E. Fallat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0808-6713)
- Benjamin Hoffman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8922-0573)
- Rudy Kink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1227-1978)
- Franscesca Miquel Verges
- Muhammad Waseem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1927-3899)
- Kevin C. Osterhoudt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1849-7716)
- Danielle S. Walsh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7395-0352)
- Marybeth Browne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3625-5171)
- Vijay Srinivasan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8259-3337)
- Sadiqa Kendi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0247-0933)
- Toni Gross (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2458-2140)
- Benson Hsu
- Maya Haasz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3064-2015)
- Alison J. Culyba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1080-2176)
- Jennifer E. McCain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5053-2617)
- Katherine T. Flynn‐O’Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5450-7278)
- Margaret A. Satchell
- Jason M. Kane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5010-3533)
- Kerry Caperell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1545-5417)
- James Dodington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2110-8259)
- Jimmy W. Huh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4268-4829)
- Andrew Kiragu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1067-2922)
- Elizabeth Ann Beierle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4613-0527)
- Lia Lowrie
- Matthew Harris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0005-9710)
- Sylvia Owusu‐Ansah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8201-4267)
- Jennifer A. Hoffmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1653-363X)
- Christian D. Pulcini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7443-7446)
- Mohsen Saidinejad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4782-0597)
- Lois K. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-5050)
- Aimee M. Grace
- Archana Dhar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0935-1555)
- Saleem Islam
- Barbara A. Gaines
- Wendy G. Hasson
- Simon-Noel Ndely
- Holly Engelstad
Institutions
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (US)
- Emory Healthcare (US)
- University of Louisville (US)
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PEDIATRICS
- Published
- 2025-08-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-072720
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Gun Ownership and Violence Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.17
Funders
- National Association of Neonatal Nurses