New surgical guidelines seek to standardize pediatric care

Hospitals hope new guidelines will standardize surgical care for children, according to the Wall Street Journal. A national task force issued new guidelines establishing the resources necessary for hospitals to safely and effectively operate on children, identifying three levels of care patterned after the system used for designating trauma. The American College of Surgeons will evaluate the estimated 200 participating hospitals' pediatric surgical care quality based on the new guidelines early next year. The highest designation, Level 1, indicates a hospital performs all procedures for newborns and children, is staffed 24 hours a day and seven days a week by multiple pediatric specialists, has the highest-level neonatal intensive care unit and features a transport system. Article