Last week I joined representatives from Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, Garnet Health, St. Anthony Community Hospital, and Bon Secours Community Hospital to announce a grant incentive program totaling $500,000 to move Orange County hospitals toward certified pediatric readiness.
New York State pediatric readiness standards – the Always Ready for Children Pediatric Recognition Program – is a collaborative project for emergency departments committed to improving their pediatric care. Thousands of children are treated in emergency departments across New York, and the outcomes for those children can depend on the availability of resources and infrastructure. High levels of pediatric readiness are linked to a 76% and 60% decrease in mortality risk for critically ill and injured children, respectively.
Pediatric ready emergency departments save lives. Orange County boasts some of the best medical professionals in the state and I’m proud to be able to assist these facilities in providing the best possible care for kids seeking emergency treatment. Hospital staff are frontline workers, and their willingness to engage with this program to ensure emergency departments have the infrastructure to treat sick and injured kids demonstrates how committed every hospital in Orange County is to keeping our communities safe.
