Emergency Medical Services for Children
The mission of the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program is to reduce child mortality and morbidity caused by severe illness or trauma. EMS for Children aims to ensure that:
- State-of-the-art emergency medical care is available for ill and injured children or adolescents;
- Pediatric service is integrated into the emergency medical service system and
- Emergency services, including primary prevention of illness and injury, acute care, and rehabilitation, are provided to children, adolescents, and adults, no matter where they live, attend school, or travel.
Goals and Objectives
Montana EMSC's Program focuses on:
- Strengthening Montana's Pediatric Readiness.
- Increasing the number of Montana hospitals formally recognized as Pediatric Prepared or a Pediatric Capable Facility.
- Increasing Montana's Emergency Medical Services Prehospital Pediatrics capabilities.
The purpose of the EMSC Advisory Committee is to help EMSTS reduce the incidence of pediatric injury and illness in Montana, as well as to promote and advance excellence in the care of injured children.
EMSC Advisory Council Members
| Committee Member | Affiliation |
| Alyssa Johnson, RN, CEN | Trauma Systems Manager - EMS & Trauma Systems - DPHHS |
| Ann Kurtz | MT VDRS Reporting System |
| Amber Bell | Children's Special Health Services, Program Manager |
| Cindee McKee | Montana Hospital Association |
| Colin Tobin | DPHHS Emergency Management |
| Emily Hall, DO | Pediatrician/MT AAP Rep |
| Dawn Gunderson | Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Representative |
| Dwight Nelson | Director of MT Traffic Education |
| Dawn Lambert | Mountain Pacific Quality Health/HR |
| Nick Burkland | DPHHS EMS Licensing Specialist |
| Hannah Yang | DPHHS EMSTS Epidemiologist |
| Kari Blaho-Owens, NREMT | Eureka Volunteer Ambulance |
| Kit Perez, NREMT | Victor Fire Department |
| Niqole Morris, AEMT | Aerie Backcountry Medicine |
| Beverly Belz | Family Rep |
| Peter Wisniewski | Family Rep |
| Janet Trethewey | DPHHS Cardiac Ready Communities |
| Jason Mahoney, Paramedic | Pediatric Liaison |
| Jennifer Banna | U of M-MT Family Health Information Center |
| Jennifer Wilson | MDT Highway Traffic Safety/CPS Rep |
| Jeremy Virts, Paramedic | MT EMS Association VP, Great Falls Emergency Services |
| Juanita Bueter | MT School Nurses Association |
| Kari Tutwiler | DPHHS FICMMR Coordinator |
| Kelly Little | DPHHS EMS-C Program Manager |
| Kira Huck | Safe Kids MT Rep |
| Koren Bloom, Paramedic | AMR/Safe Kids Coalition |
| Lanette Perkins, RN | Cultural Liaison |
| Lily Anderson, RN | St Vincent Hospital - Pediatrics |
| Lyndy Gurchiek | Big Sky EMS |
| Maureen Ward | DPHHS Injury Prevention Program Manager |
| Rich Lammers, DO | MT Emergency Physician Association |
| Shari Graham, Paramedic | DPHHS EMS Systems Manager |
| Stacy Stellflug, NP | MSU Assistant Professor Pediatrics Trauma |
| Stephanie Morton | Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Rep |
| Steve Schmidt | Buckle Up Missoula/DUI Task Force |
| Terry Mullins | DPHHS MT EMSTS Supervisor |
| Tracy Kiesel | Buckle Up Tri-county Rep |
| Trish Christensen | Children's Mental Health Bureau |
| Wendy Olson | Buckle Up Kalispell Rep |
2023 Upcoming EMSC Advisory Committee Meetings:
| For more information please contact: Kelly Little, EMSC Manager (406) 444-0901 |
| March 5, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Virtual |
| June 4, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Virtual |
| September 3, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Virtual |
| December 3, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Virtual |
Meeting Minutes
Montana's Pediatric Facility Recognition Criteria Has Two Levels of Recognition
Montanans voluntary certification program recognizes hospitals that meet specific criteria for personnel training, equipment and facilities that support optimal care for ill or injured infants, children and adolescents.
The Pediatric Facility Recognition application packet will include the following:
- Application Instructions
- Demographic Form
- Montana Pediatric Facility Recognition Criteria - available upon request
- Montana Pediatric Disaster Preparedness Checklist
Pediatric Prepared Facility
Pediatric Prepared Emergency Care is a voluntary program recognizing hospitals that have demonstrated their ability to provide advanced pediatric care for the majority of pediatric medical emergencies including illness and injury. Pediatric Prepared Emergency Care is a partnership between hospitals, physicians, nurses, emergency personnel and the Emergency Medical Services for Children program at EMS & Trauma Systems within Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
Hospitals Recognized as a Pediatric Prepared Facility:
| Facility | City |
| St. Vincent Health Care | Billings |
| Northern Montana Hospital | Havre |
| North Valley Hospital | Whitefish |
| Beartooth Billings Clinic | Red Lodge |
| Kalispell Regional Healthcare | Kalispell |
| Billings Clinic | Billings |
| St. Patrick/Providence Hospital | Missoula |
| Benefis Health System | Great Falls |
| Community Medical Center | Missoula |
| Bozeman Health | Bozeman |
| St. James Healthcare | Butte |
(October 2019)
Pediatric Capable Facility
Pediatric Capable Emergency Care is a voluntary program recognizing hospitals that have the ability to provide limited pediatric care and have a system in place to transfer to a pediatric prepared facility.
Hospital Recognized as a Pediatric Capable Facility:
| Facility | City |
| Stillwater Billings Clinic | Columbus |
| Phillips County Hospital | Malta |
| Central Montana Medical Center | Lewistown |
| Community Hospital of Anaconda | Anaconda |
| Big Horn County Memorial Hospital | Hardin |
| Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center | Scobey |
| Pondera Medical Center | Conrad |
(October 2019)
What we hope to accomplish:
- A statewide goal of standards of care for pediatrics to help ensure the right care, in the right place, at the right time and with the right resources no matter where the child lives.
- The MT EMSC will be scheduling Pediatric Facility Recognition Site visits with Montana hospitals. During these visits assessments will be conducted using the Montana Pediatric Facility Recognition Criteria. The new Montana Pediatric Facility Recognition Criteria follows the Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has given their endorsement as well.
For further information or questions please contact Kelly Little, EMSC Program Manager at (406) 444-0901 or at kelly.little@mt.gov.
Child Passenger Safety in Montana
Montana Pediatric Scenario Guidebook
EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center
Critical Crossroads: Pediatric Mental Health Care in the Emergency Department
Patient Centered Care and Trauma Informed Care for Pediatric Patients - HEALTHCARE TOOLBOX
Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department: Resources and Tools- Interactive Modified ChecklistReady Wrigley - Community Disaster
Disclaimer
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,724,632 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
