Improving how emergency services assess children with non-urgent health issues
Official title: Improving risk prediction for children seeking emergency medical services (EMS) care with non-emergent complaints
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-10983593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new tool to help emergency medical teams make better decisions about whether to take kids with minor health issues to the hospital or provide care on the spot, so they can get the right help without unnecessary trips to the emergency room.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $141,998 |
| NIH project number | 1K08HS029515-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10983593 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children who are seeking emergency medical services for non-emergent health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe or life-threatening conditions that require immediate emergency care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the way Emergency Medical Services (EMS) evaluate children who seek care for non-emergent complaints. Currently, many children are either unnecessarily transported to emergency departments or left at the scene without proper care due to a lack of standardized triage tools. The study will refine and pilot-test the Pediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS), a tool designed to identify children at low risk of deterioration, to ensure that EMS clinicians can make better decisions regarding patient transport. By validating this tool in the EMS setting, the research seeks to improve patient outcomes and reduce overcrowding in emergency departments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more efficient emergency care for children, ensuring they receive appropriate treatment without unnecessary transport.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using standardized triage tools have shown success in other healthcare settings, indicating potential for this method to improve pediatric EMS care.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ward, Caleb — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Ward, Caleb
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.