Delaware Pediatric Emergency Care Facility Recognition Program

Delaware completed the initial phase of development of its new Statewide Pediatric System through recognition of Delaware’s hospitals as Pediatric Emergency Care Facilities (PECF) on December 30, 2011. Every Delaware acute care hospital that treats children voluntarily chose to participate in this new program. It required them to meet state standards, submit a lengthy application, and be visited by a state review team.

The EMSC Standards Committee, a group of 19 Delaware clinical experts, worked since 2007 to develop the PECF Recognition Program with the goal of standardizing emergency medical care for children statewide. The committee reviewed documents adopted in other states such as Illinois, California, and Tennessee as models for the Delaware program.

Delaware hospitals are recognized as PECF Level I - III. There are one Level 1, one Level 2, and six Level 3 recognized facilities.

The Level 1 facility is capable of providing comprehensive specialized pediatric medical and surgical care to all types of ill children. This facility serves as a regional referral center for the specialized care of pediatric patients.
The Level 2 facility is capable of identifying and stabilizing critically ill or injured pediatric patients and providing ongoing inpatient care or appropriate timely transfer to a Level 1 facility.
The Level 3 facility is capable of identifying and stabilizing those pediatric patients who are critically ill or injured and providing appropriate timely transfer to a higher level of care. Level 3 facilities have capabilities for the management of minor pediatric inpatient illnesses.

Facility Recognition Resource

For more information, please contact the program office.

Delaware Pediatric Emergency Care Facility Recognition Program

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