🟤 Bronze → ⚪ Silver → 🟡 Gold → 🔷 Platinum
Advancing Pediatric Emergency Care Across Tennessee
Every EMS provider cares for children but pediatric emergencies occur infrequently enough that maintaining readiness requires ongoing commitment.
The Tennessee EMS Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program provides EMS agencies with a clear, voluntary pathway to strengthen pediatric emergency preparedness while receiving statewide recognition for their efforts.
Approved by the Tennessee EMS Board, this four-tier recognition program helps agencies build sustainable pediatric readiness practices that improve patient care, support providers, and align with national pediatric readiness initiatives. Oversight of the program is provided by the Tennessee Committee on Pediatric Emergency Care (CoPEC) EMS Subcommittee.
Why Pediatric Readiness Matters
Children are not simply small adults. They require specialized equipment, age-appropriate assessment skills, pediatric-specific treatment protocols, and ongoing education to ensure the best possible outcomes.
The EMS Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program was developed to help agencies:
- Improve the quality and consistency of pediatric emergency care
- Strengthen provider confidence when caring for critically ill or injured children
- Support continuous quality improvement
- Promote collaboration with regional pediatric experts
- Demonstrate a commitment to excellence within their communities
A Flexible, Four-Tier Recognition Program
This is a voluntary self-designation program.
Participating agencies choose the recognition level that best matches their current pediatric readiness and organizational goals.
As agencies continue to enhance their pediatric capabilities, they may apply for higher levels of recognition.
Bronze
Establishes the foundational elements of pediatric readiness and meets the core national EMS pediatric performance measures.
Silver
Builds upon foundational readiness by strengthening education, competency validation, and pediatric-specific operational processes.
Gold
Demonstrates advanced pediatric readiness through expanded quality improvement activities, enhanced education, and family-centered care practices.
Platinum
Recognizes agencies that have achieved the highest level of pediatric readiness through comprehensive education, quality improvement, disaster preparedness, outcome tracking, and community outreach.
Recognition Criteria
Recognition is based on evidence demonstrating pediatric readiness across several key areas, including:
- Pediatric Emergency Care Coordination (PECC)
- Pediatric equipment and competency validation
- Continuing pediatric education
- Clinical skills assessment
- Pediatric policies and protocols
- Quality improvement and performance improvement
- Disaster preparedness
- Community outreach
- Data submission and participation in national pediatric readiness assessments
Each recognition tier builds upon the previous level, allowing agencies to continually strengthen their pediatric emergency care program over time.
Benefits of Participation
Participating agencies receive:
- Official Tennessee EMS Pediatric Readiness Recognition
- Pediatric Readiness digital logo and recognition materials
- Recognition decal for eligible agencies
- Statewide recognition of your commitment to pediatric excellence
- Resources and guidance from pediatric experts
- A structured roadmap for continuous improvement
Program Oversight
The EMS Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program is administered by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee (CECA) in partnership with the Tennessee Committee on Pediatric Emergency Care (CoPEC) EMS Subcommittee.
Applications are reviewed through the established recognition process to ensure agencies meet the criteria for their selected recognition level.
Coming Soon
Applications for the EMS Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program will be opening soon.
Additional information, submission instructions, required documentation, and application materials will be available on this page once the application portal launches