Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) State Partnership Programs support all 57 states, territories, and jurisdictions in meeting the needs of children within their unique emergency care systems. Programs work to achieve federally defined performance measures through locally tailored strategies. By developing, implementing, and sharing resources, tools, and other opportunities to become pediatric ready, State Partnership Programs are at the forefront of improving pediatric patient outcomes.
The Ohio EMSC State Partnership grant has been held at Nationwide Children's Hospital since December 2022, and we work collaboratively with all of the children's hospitals across Ohio to accomplish this mission. We also work with ODPS, ODH, Ohio emergency departments and Ohio prehospital agencies to increase Pediatric Readiness throughout the state.
Federal EMSC Program
Since 1984, the EMSC Program has helped seriously ill and injured children by making sure that no matter where a child lives, the health systems in their area provide quality emergency care services. These federal grants support a research network (PECARN), Targeted Issues Grants, the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center, the EMSC Data Center, and EMSC State Partnership Programs, such as this Ohio EMS for Children State Partnership.
The Federal EMSC Program is housed under the US Dept. of Health and Human Services within the Health Resources and Services and Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Program Director
Julie C. Leonard, MD, MPH
Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 722-4385
Email: Julie.Leonard@NationwideChildrens.org
Associate Program Director
Anne P. Runkle, MD
Ohio State University and Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 722-4385
Email: Anne.Runkle@NationwideChildrens.org
Program Manager
Jess Davis, BA, NRP
Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 722-4345
Email: Jessica.Davis2@NationwideChildrens.org
Ohio EMSC State Partnership General Email: OhioEMSC@NationwideChildrens.org
Ohio EMSC Advisory Committee
Hamilton P. Schwartz, MD, MEd, FAAP, FACEP
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Email: hamilton.schwartz@cchmc.org
Engage With EMSC
We encourage you to take action to advance pediatric readiness!
- Become a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator/PECC for your service or organization
- Complete ongoing pediatric-specific education
- Emergency Departments can take part in the National Pediatric Readiness Project
- Prehospital systems can take part in the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project
- Join a Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative
- Advocate for policy changes with your legislators on pediatric emergency care issues
- Follow our website for news, upcoming events and more!
- Attend the Ohio EMSC Annual Conference
Pediatric Readiness
Children have unique physiological, emotional, and developmental characteristics that require specialized emergency care. Pediatric Readiness is ensuring that every EMS and fire-rescue agency and emergency department has the pediatric-specific champions, competencies, policies, equipment, and other resources needed to provide high-quality emergency care for children. The EMSC has two specific Pediatric Readiness projects: the National Pediatric Readiness Project for emergency departments and the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project for EMS agencies and fire departments.
Organizations can also designate a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator(s) (PECC) to champion their work towards Pediatric Readiness! Click here to become a PECC in Ohio.
Facility Recognition
The Ohio EMSC Pediatric Readiness Facility Recognition Program honors emergency departments (EDs) for meeting specific pediatric care standards. This program encourages improvements in care, enhances coordination, and ensures children receive appropriate treatment from well-prepared facilities.
Analysis of 2021 pediatric readiness national assessment results shows that EDs that participate in recognition programs had a 24-point higher median score, on average, than EDs that did not. High pediatric readiness scores are associated with improved outcomes. (Learn more about pediatric readiness here.)
Learn more about the Ohio EMSC Pediatric Readiness Facility Recognition Program here.
Grant Funding
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Maternal and Child Health Bureau Emergency Medical Services for Children grant number H33MC48997 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.