CCMSD rewarded for pediatric readiness

As part of a national campaign, Crook County Medical Services District has been working towards achieving a state of readiness verification for pediatric emergencies. On Thursday, representatives from the Office of Emergency Medical Services, Wyoming Department of Health, visited the hospital to award a plaque to the team for their efforts.

"We're trying to improve hospitals, and specifically ERs, to receive pediatric emergencies. The first level recognition these guys have shows that they committed the time and the effort into making sure their staff is trained, making sure their physicians are trained, making sure they have the transport agreements," says Brad McKee of the Office of Emergency Medical Services

"There's a whole list of things, but it's basically the commitment to deliver high-quality pediatric care to the citizens of this area. It's something to be really proud of."

Under the leadership of Bob Hart, Trauma Program Manager, CCMSD has become just the fifth hospital in the state to achieve this verification. To do so, says Hart, requires training all staff in emergency pediatric care, as well as obtaining and training on a significant amount of new equipment.

"It's so specialized, because they're all different sizes," he explains. "Once you get to about age 15, most things in the medical community fit, but when they are younger there are so many different sizes to fit the childhood years."