Section 515.445  Pediatric Care

a)         Upon the availability of federal funds for development of an emergency medical services for children program, the Department shall appoint an Advisory Board to advise the Department on all matters concerning emergency medical service for children and to develop and implement a plan to address identified pediatric areas of need.  The Advisory Board shall assist in the formulation of policy to effect the purposes of the Act and this Part.  The Advisory Board shall consist of 25 members to be appointed by the Director for a term of three years.  Membership of the Advisory Board shall include:

1)         One practicing pediatrician, one pediatric critical care physician, one board certified pediatric emergency physician, neonatologist, and one pediatric rehabilitation physician, to be recommended by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Chicago Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

2)         One pediatric surgeon, to be recommended by the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Surgeons;

3)         Two emergency physicians, one to be recommended by the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and one to be recommended by the National Association of EMS Physicians;

4)         One family practice physician, to be recommended by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians;

5)         Two registered nurses, one to be appointed upon recommendation of the Illinois Nurses Association and one to be appointed upon recommendation of the Illinois Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association;

6)         Two emergency medical technicians of differing levels, to be appointed, one each, upon recommendation of the Illinois EMT Association and Illinois Fire Fighters Association;

7)         An EMS Coordinator recommended by the Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois EMS Coordinators Association;

8)         A representative from each of the following agencies:  Division of Specialized Care for Children; Illinois State Police; Illinois Fire Chiefs Association; Illinois State Ambulance Association; Illinois Medical Society; SAFEKIDS Coalition; Illinois Hospital Association; Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council; Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; Illinois Kiwanis Association; health policy representative; and a child advocate group;

9)         A non-voting member from the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety and the Division of Family Health (IDPH).  EMS Regional representation shall be through board members who serve as representatives of other designated constituencies.  Such members shall have dual representation status in advising the Illinois Department of Public Health, but shall retain one vote.  The Department shall take into consideration Regional representation when making advisory board appointments.

b)         The Advisory Board members with medical backgrounds shall have expertise and interest in emergency or critical care medical services for children. Vacancies on the Advisory Council shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the Director in the same manner as originally filled.  The members of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including travel expenses.  A majority of the members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business of the advisory committee.  A majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is established shall be necessary to validate any action of the committee.

c)         The Department, with the advice of the Advisory Board, shall address and establish through the EMSC program at least the following:

1)         Initial and continuing education programs for emergency medical services personnel which shall include training in the emergency care of infants and children;

2)         Guidelines for referring children to the appropriate emergency or critical care medical facilities;

3)         Guidelines for pre-hospital, hospital and other pediatric emergency or critical care medical service equipment;

4)         Guidelines and protocols for pre-hospital and hospital facilities encompassing all levels of pediatric emergency medical services, hospital and pediatric critical care services, including, but not limited to, triage, stabilization, treatment, transfers and referrals;

5)         Guidelines for hospital-based emergency departments appropriate for pediatric care to assess, stabilize, and treat critically ill infants and children and if necessary to prepare the child for transfer to pediatric intensive care unit or pediatric trauma center;

6)         Guidelines for pediatric intensive care units, pediatric trauma centers and intermediate care units fully equipped and staffed by appropriately trained critical care pediatric physicians, surgeons, nurses and therapists;

7)         An inter-facility transfer system for critically ill or injured children;

8)         Guidelines for pediatric rehabilitation units to ensure staffing by rehabilitation specialists and capabilities to provide any service required to assure maximum recovery from the physical, emotional and cognitive effects of critical illness and severe trauma;

9)         Guidelines for the implementation of public education and injury prevention programs throughout the State in conjunction with local fire, public safety and school personnel;

10)       Guidelines for the collection, analysis and dissemination of pediatric quality improvement information regarding ongoing improvements in the EMSC program; and

11)       Guidelines and protocols for pre-hospital providers and hospital facilities for the treatment, documentation, reporting and professional interactions with family members, and for referrals to social, psychological and rehabilitation services in suspected cases of child maltreatment.

(Source:  Renumbered from Section 515.2100 and amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 9006, effective June 15, 2000)