Great Plains Health
North Platte, Neb., February 7, 2025 – On February 1, Great Plains Health became the seventh hospital in Nebraska to be recognized as a Pediatric Ready Hospital by the Nebraska Emergency Medical Services for Children Committee, marking a significant milestone for pediatric emergency care in the North Platte region.
This achievement is particularly significant as approximately 90% of children needing emergency care are first treated at local community emergency departments.
To earn this designation, Great Plains Health met rigorous standards in several key areas, including staff qualifications and training, quality improvement measures, pediatric-specific policies, continuing education programs, specialized equipment and supplies, and a commitment to ongoing process refinement.
"Having the right equipment, protocols, and training in place for pediatric emergencies can make a critical difference in outcomes," said Dr. James Smith, emergency physician at Great Plains Health. "Our team has worked diligently to implement these pediatric-ready standards, ensuring we're prepared when children need emergency care."
Research shows that emergency departments participating in pediatric readiness initiatives have improved clinical outcomes, with critically ill and injured children experiencing lower mortality rates compared to those treated at facilities not associated with such initiatives. Studies indicate hospitals with high levels of pediatric readiness can reduce mortality risk by up to 76%.
"This recognition reflects our dedication to providing the highest level of emergency care for children in our community," said Sarah Roth, emergency department clinical educator at Great Plains Health.
"We are continually advancing to provide our region with the best possible 24/7 emergency coverage at our Level III trauma center," said Stephanie Jacobson, director of emergency services at Great Plains Health. "Excellence in pediatric emergency care is a vital part of that mission."
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About Great Plains Health
Based in North Platte, Nebraska, Great Plains Health is a fully accredited, 116-bed acute-care regional medical center serving western and central Nebraska, northern Kansas, and southern South Dakota. With 90 physicians representing nearly 30 medical specialties, the Great Plains Health system offers advanced health care, including heart and vascular, cancer, and
orthopedic surgery services. Great Plains Health is a Level III trauma center, and all of its emergency department physicians are residency-trained and board-certified in emergency medicine. The system employs approximately 1,200 employees and serves a geographic area spanning approximately 16,000 square miles. The hospital is accredited by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and is home to an American College of Surgeons accredited cancer center and Level II bariatric surgery program. For more information, visit gphealth.org.
About the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP)
The National Pediatric Readiness Project is an initiative of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Emergency Nurses Association. The project empowers emergency departments nationwide to improve their “pediatric readiness” or capability to care for acutely ill and injured children.