A Pediatric Coalition Response to the Respiratory Illness Outbreak

Introduction: Children are frequently victims of disasters. However, gaps remain in pediatric disaster preparedness. The New York City Pediatric Disaster Coalition (NYCPDC) is funded by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to prepare NYC for mass casualty events involving children. In the fall of 2022, there was a significant increase in pediatric emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to Rhinovirus, Enterovirus, COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV throughout many areas of the United States. This, coupled with underlying staffing and other shortages, created a strain on the healthcare system. In many facilities, surge capacity was exceeded, Emergency Departments and Pediatric Intensive Care Units were closed to new patients, and inter-hospital transports were denied. Methods: In response, the NYCPDC rapidly (over four days) developed a one-hour webinar focused on: epidemiological data sharing, impacts on patient care, a review of prevention, treatment, and supply issues, and a discussion on current and future strategies to respond to the outbreak. The one-hour webinar included a total of four presenters with representation from the NYCPDC, DOHMH, as well as two major NYC children’s hospitals and a national audience. Results: Over 400 healthcare workers registered for the webinar from around the United States. Prior to the conclusion of the webinar, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the session by sharing their firsthand surge experiences, including capacity expansion, challenges, and best practices. Following the session, a recording of the webinar as well as a curated listing of resources developed in cooperation with the National Pediatric Disaster Coalition were distributed to every participant. Conclusion: This presentation will provide a summary of the webinar and highlight effective strategies to respond to future outbreaks. This includes managing a large influx of pediatric patients in the emergency department and pediatric intensive care unit, as well as effective transfer strategies.