Research
Although the primary mission of the CHAM Pediatric Emergency Department is to provide a safety net for poor and unaffiliated children who may otherwise have no access to healthcare, the Department is also deeply committed to answering clinically relevant questions through a focus on translational and clinical research.
Our team has published original studies, review articles, chapters and abstracts on a variety of topics. We are currently conducting research on:
Reducing X-rays with Point-of-Care Ultrasound
CHAM pediatric emergency medicine researchers have shown that point-of-care sonographic identification of an elevated posterior fat pad and lipohemarthrosis is a feasible, accurate and reliable marker for elbow fractures. Using this imaging modality to rule out fracture can reduce the use of radiographs in about 50 percent of children, thus avoiding radiation and reducing their time in the Emergency Department. Researchers are also studying point-of-care sonography for other musculoskeletal injuries and acute chest pain in sickle cell patients.
Improving Emergency Care for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Researchers in the CHAM Emergency Department are conducting a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved clinical trial evaluating a novel method of analgesia delivery for children suffering from a painful sickle cell crisis in the Emergency Department. By administering pain medication intranasally, clinician-investigators hope to provide effective and timely analgesia for children in severe pain.
Training the Physicians of Tomorrow: Practice Makes Perfect
Emergency Medicine physicians at CHAM are part of a multicenter study that assesses just-in-time training as an educational strategy for training interns, whereby training sessions are conducted directly prior to a clinical procedure (such as lumbar puncture) in order to maximize the learner’s clinical performance of a task by allowing both deliberate practice and immediate feedback.
Identifying Children at Risk for Serious Bacterial Illness
CHAM Pediatric Emergency Medicine researchers are investigating the presentation and causes of fever in children in certain high-risk groups (young infants, children with sickle cell disease) to determine the current incidence of bacteremia and serious bacterial illness in these children and to validate common risk stratification criteria used in the Emergency Department.
Implementation of Sepsis Guidelines
Severe sepsis/septic shock is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Care coordination by an interdisciplinary clinical team is essential to improve early identification and treatment, which will maximize the probability of a positive outcome. Pediatric Emergency Medicine experts, along with those from Pediatric Infectious Disease and Pediatric Critical Care, have helped to develop a coordinated system-wide approach for early identification and treatment of severe sepsis/septic shock in children. The key to good outcomes is to recognize sepsis early and to start treatment immediately. Increased awareness, research, education and adherence to protocols collectively contribute to a significant reduction in mortality.