Improving emergency medical services for children with special health careneeds: Does training make a difference?

This study evaluated the impact of a paramedic training program on emergenc y medical services (EMS) responses for children with special health care ne eds. EMS responses for children with a congenital or acquired condition or a chronic physical or mental illness, were reviewed. Responses, related to the child's special health care need involving paramedics who had completed our training program were compared with responses with paramedics not part icipating in the training. There was significantly more advanced life suppo rt treatment for responses with paramedics completing the training program compared with other responses. However, there was no significant difference in transport to a hospital or in-hospital admission between these 2 groups . This finding suggests that existing EMS protocols may play a more importa nt role in emergency treatment and transport of children with special healt h care needs than specialized training of already certified paramedics. Cop yright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.