Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart hosted its first-ever Pediatric Critical Care Conference on February 24, welcoming EMS and transport specialists from across Northwest Florida and South Alabama for a free, daylong training focused exclusively on pediatric emergency care.
As the region’s only pediatric trauma center, Studer Family Children’s Hospital leveraged its elite-level expertise to ensure best practices are used in the critical moments before an injured or seriously ill child reaches the hospital.
“The vast majority of paramedics, EMTs, and transport specialists just don't see sick kids that often,”said keynote speaker Scott DeBoer, an internationally respected pediatric seminar leader with more than 25 years of nursing experience. “So, having something like this sponsored by Studer Family Children’s Hospital, who that's what they do is take care of sick kids, to have people who actually like to take care of kids to help those that are not quite as comfortable just absolutely is a godsend.”
The conference focused on essential topics such as rapid assessment of “crashing” children, pediatric drownings, toxicological emergencies, neonatal stabilization, and effective communication strategies when caring for young patients.
“It's really important that we're able to be ready to deal with those critical pediatric patients in the field,” said Phoenix Reed, an EMT with Escambia County. “We're seeing a lot of adults and not oftentimes a lot of kids. So we have to make sure we're building up that preparedness.”
Held at the Greenhut Auditorium on the Sacred Heart Hospital campus, the conference brought together first responders and transport teams from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay, Baldwin and Mobile counties. The multidisciplinary event was designed to enhance clinical skills and provide the latest updates in pediatric emergency and acute care.
Staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and specialized pediatric care teams, Studer Family Children’s Hospital delivers advanced, comprehensive trauma care tailored specifically for children. The conference reflects the hospital’s commitment to supporting community partners and improving outcomes for pediatric patients across the region.
“Pediatric readiness is a national hot topic,” said Dr. Dawn Walton, Chief Medical Officer at Studer Family Children’s Hospital. “There is a national focus on that from the federal government as well as the state government. And they are looking to put some funding into training and things exactly like we’re doing today. Putting emphasis into bigger programs and more simulations and other things just to get that care and experience and everything you need to be able to take care of pediatric patients the best that you can before they get to where they need to go.”
DeBoer led off the conference with sessions on Rapid Assessment of Crashing Kids and Basics of Broselow & Handling Hantevy’s. The rest of the agenda included session by experts at Studer Family Children’s Hospital:
- Pediatric Communication Tips & Tricks by Amanda Soldani, Certified Child Life Specialist
- Pediatric Drowning by Dr. Jeffrey Beard, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department
- Pediatric Overdose & Toxicological Emergencies by Dr. Danielle Geeting, Pediatric Intensivist
- Small Baby Stabilization & Overview by Dr. Sunil Batlahally, Neonatology
By equipping EMS and transport professionals with advanced pediatric training, Studer Family Children’s Hospital is strengthening the chain of survival for children across Northwest Florida and South Alabama, ensuring that from the moment care begins in the field, young patients receive the specialized attention they deserve.
