County EMS earns recognition by statewide program
Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was recently recognized by the Florida Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program (PRRP) as a Florida PEDReady Gold Tier service.
Lee County EMS is only the 12th agency in Florida to achieve PEDReady recognition.
The county reported that the program recognizes EMS agencies that demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing pediatric emergency care, education and disaster preparedness. The infrequency of pediatric calls makes it challenging for prehospital professionals to develop and maintain pediatric care competencies.
PRRPs are statewide initiatives designed to recognize EMS agencies for meeting specific standards in pediatric emergency care. By participating in the recognition programs, agencies can demonstrate their commitment to pediatric readiness, which has been associated with a lower mortality risk for children seeking emergency care.
The process included an application to document the agency’s compliance with standards, an interactive review of department operations and interviews with providers.
“We train, prepare and equip our team to handle every patient and every emergency,” Lee County EMS Chief Paul DiCicco said. “Pediatric emergencies are a smaller subset of our patient population, which makes these calls more challenging.”
“The state of Florida designation confirms the dedication of the Lee County Emergency Medical Services system to the outstanding care of our young patients,” Lee County Public Safety Medical Director Dr. James Augustine added. “This is necessary in a growing and vibrant community that dedicates so many programs and educational systems to our children.”