This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Innovation and Improvement Center Program, hereinafter called the EIIC Program. The purpose of the EIIC Program is to demonstrate effective methods that improve the clinical care and management of pediatric patients within the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system through such mechanisms as improved access to pediatric EMS expertise for EMSC recipients and stakeholders; implementation of Quality Improvement Collaboratives (QIC), addressing the unique needs of pediatric patients in rural health care systems; strengthened communication within the EMSC community; and creation of a central repository of pediatric evidence-based resources for prehospital and hospital emergency department (ED) professionals. The EIIC Program will accomplish this purpose by implementing activities in each of the following four distinct areas of focus:
• Provide access to EMS pediatric subject matter experts (SME) to EMSC recipients and stakeholders.
• Design, develop, and evaluate prehospital and hospital setting QICs. QICs will test implementation approaches with resulting new evidence and best practices disseminated nationally. QICs will be based on emerging HRSA priorities, mental health, and the Pediatric Readiness in Emergency Medical Services Systems2 and Pediatric Readiness in Emergency Departments3 joint policy statements, and will include collaboration with recipients of HRSA’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program.4
• Facilitate communication within the EMSC community to increase field awareness and adoption of best practices and new evidence in emergency pediatric care, including addressing the unique needs of pediatric patients in rural health systems.
• Create a publicly accessible central repository of pediatric evidence-based resources for prehospital and hospital professionals.
Expectations related to each of the areas of focus for the EIIC Program are explained further in the Program-Specific Instructions section (Section IV.2). The specific objectives and targets for this funding opportunity are as follows:
• By May 2024, ensure that at least 15 percent of the nation’s EMS professionals have accessed the central repository of evidence-based resources, including professionals in rural settings.
• By May 2024, increase to 50 percent the proportion of QIC participating prehospital agencies and hospital facilities demonstrating improvements in the quality of pediatric emergency care.
• By May 2024, ensure that at least 1,000 prehospital and hospital professionals report improved knowledge of best practices after participating in pediatric EMS continuing education courses administered by the EIIC Program.
• By May 2024, ensure that at least 1,000 prehospital and hospital Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECCs) receive information on effective methods for improving the quality of emergency care to children.
• By May 2024, ensure that 80 percent of EMSC recipients and national stakeholders report access to high-quality resources and guidance that accelerates translation of clinical evidence into EMS practice in the care of children.
