Regional Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (RPECC)

A Regional Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator or Regional Outreach and Preparedness Coordinator for Pediatric Emergency Services is responsible for improving and coordinating pediatric emergency care across a defined region, focusing on staff education, training, outreach, quality improvement, coordination, establishing strong liaisons with regional emergency care entities, and advocating for pediatric readiness in all aspects of emergency care. They act as a vital point person for pediatric emergency matters, advocating for children to receive appropriate, high-quality care during emergencies - regardless of how or where children and families access the emergency system.

Key Responsibilities

• Education and Training: Provide and promote pediatric-specific continuing education for emergency department staff and prehospital providers, including courses like PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course), and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program).
• Resource Management: Advocate for the availability and appropriateness of pediatric-specific equipment, supplies, and medications within emergency settings.
• Quality Improvement (QI) & Patient Safety: Lead and implement pediatric-focused quality improvement and patient safety initiatives on a regional level to enhance care delivery and outcomes.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Serve as a central point of contact and liaison with regional pediatric referral hospitals and other community pediatric care providers, establishing partnerships to collaboratively address pediatric care needs. Provide follow-up care outcomes for patients transferred to pediatric specialty care from regional hospital EDs, offering resources, feedback on care provided at outside facility, and education when appropriate.
• Protocol Development: Collaborate on the development and periodic review of clinical protocols, guidelines, and destination protocols for pediatric patients to promote consistency and best practices across the region.
• Advocacy: Advocate for pediatric care needs across the region, promoting a family-centered approach and inclusion of pediatric considerations in organizational policies.
• Disaster Preparedness: Develop or improve the regional preparedness for pediatric patients during mass casualty incidents or other disasters. Represent the needs of children on regional health and medical coalitions and participate in pediatric surge and mass casualty preparedness activities.

Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
5 years Nursing experience.

Minimum of one year recent pediatric experience in a comparable setting.

Minimum of 1 year of demonstrated nursing leadership experience for example as a charge nurse, educator, preceptor, council chair /member advancement on the clinical ladder or comparable positions. (Required)

Functional Accountabilities
Professional Practice

• Participate in/support Shared Nursing Leadership.

• Contribute to the sustainability and advancement of nursing excellence which translates into on-going Magnet designation.

• Participate, contribute to internal/external committees, professional organizations, community activities.

• Accountable to support/participate in the Division of Nursing's performance improvement process.

• Identify ,define ,and report on measures consistent with Nurse Sensitive Indicators (NSIs) for Ambulatory Nursing Practice.

• Integrate evidence-based practice and research into practice.

• Assist physicians and other professional providers to maintain appropriate cost and desired patient outcomes.

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Patient Family- Centered Care

• Plan to consult and collaborate with patients, families physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other professional colleagues; involve patients and families in shared decision making; advocate for patient and family; accessing relevant health services.

• Responsible and having the authority and accountability for clinical care for specific patient population and area workflow; develop pertinent goals based on patient response to illness, health promotion and program expected outcomes; implement suitable, evidence-based nursing interventions; provide careful and complete documentation of care provided.

• Use the nursing process in the clinic setting and in tele-health services to assess patient problems and concerns; critically analyze and integrate subjective and objective data.

• Provide health education based on the patient /family learning preferences throughout a patient's disease trajectory or health promotion; utilize expertise in cultural competency to enhance relationships, processes, and outcomes for patients/families.

• Engage opportunities to act in the best interest of the patient/family, building trust and confidence, while upholding moral and legal standards of due care.

• Coordinate mechanisms across systems, institutions, and community to provide continuity of care for wellness needs or health concerns; direct and participate in the development of patient care policies and protocols in order to advise and guide practice.

Resources and Work Environment

• Establish and maintain medical equipment and supplies, include a plan to promote safe and effective use of equipment.

• Ensure regulatory requirements are met and area is in a constant state of readiness in area of practice; keep update on the application of health informatics systems such as diagnosis and treatment technology linked to patient care.

• Apply knowledge of operations, financial principles, and resources to ensure quality and appropriate care services are delivered in a cost effective and safe manner.

• Responsible to enhance knowledge, skills and abilities in areas in clinical, legal, regulatory and cultural competence associated with patient population and community relevant care.

• Employ critical attributes of effective collaboration to create, promote, and maintain an environment that supports successful partnership and high performance team outcomes.

Partners for Excellence

• Facilitate interdisciplinary patient care rounds/conferences to review treatment goals and optimize outcomes.

• Ensure time, schedule and alternate coverage accuracy in meeting patients/families care and personal needs; participate in cross coverage of other areas providing clinical care when the special needs arise.

• Direct the flow of patients and staff to assure patients are adequately managed and the care environment is running smoothly.

• Work in collaboration with professional staff including RNs, LPNs, PCTs and other unlicensed assistive personnel as manifested in the state practice act/guidelines and CNMC job descriptions.

• Communicate and escalate clinical/administrative issues as appropriate to levels of individuals assigned for resolution.

• Participate in the peer review for staff.