Journal of Trauma Publishes Second Childress Summit Proceedings Paper

Outcomes will Improve Care for Pediatric Trauma, the No. 1 Killer of Children in the U.S.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 12, 2016) – The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery published the paper “Proceedings of the second Childress Summit on pediatric trauma: Operationalizing the vision” in its October 2016 edition. The paper was co-written by Dr. Mary Fallat with Kosair Children’s Hospital, Dr. Barbara Gaines with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Kathy Haley with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Dr. J. Wayne Meredith with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Dr. David Mooney with Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Jeffrey Upperman with Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, as well as contributions from the Childress Summit II work groups

“The output of the Childress Summit II will direct how we fund research and education programs to improve pediatric trauma care across the U.S.,” said Bob Gfeller, executive director of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “We are pleased that our collaboration with nationally-renowned pediatric trauma leaders is resulting in tangible next steps to help save more injured kids.”

In May 2015, The Childress Institute hosted 50 key leaders in pediatric trauma care from across the U.S. for the second Childress Summit at Graylyn International Conference Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. The summit sought to translate visionary statements into practical, meaningful initiatives to improve pediatric trauma care at all levels of the system. Summit participants formalized plans for projects that will make the most impact in saving severely injured children.

The proceedings paper lays out the results and next steps from the summit, including plans for:

• A virtual pediatric trauma center – mobile data for both parents and providers
• A pediatric trauma toolkit – up-to-date, easily accessible pediatric trauma information for practitioners who infrequently encounter these patients, which could bring pediatric trauma expertise to the bedside of all injured children
• A “dashboard” to measure pediatric trauma care and provide consistent and thorough information to improve pediatric trauma care throughout the U.S.

The Childress Summit participants will move forward on next steps with the goal to improve care for all injured children across the U.S. and substantially reduce the number of injuries and disabilities children suffer. In response to the summit recommendations, the Childress Institute awarded a one-year grant to Trauma and Emergency Research, Inc. (TERI) for its “Survey of Need for Virtual Trauma Network” project, which is the first step in development of a Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center.

Traumatic injury is the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 10,000 children each year. In addition, almost 300,000 children are hospitalized and over 8 million children are treated in the emergency department for serious injuries each year, many of whom struggle with long-term recoveries and disabilities. The Childress Institute funds research, education and advocacy to save injured kids. For more information about the Childress Institute and pediatric trauma, visit https://saveinjuredkids.org, https://www.facebook.com/SaveInjuredKids/ or Twitter @injuredkids.

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About the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to help improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. The Childress Institute was founded at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in 2008 through a generous gift from Richard and Judy Childress. Visit www.SaveInjuredKids.org to learn more.

Contact: 

Childress Institute:  Kara Thompson – kathomps@wakehealth.edu, (336) 491-9766