The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is seeking input from a wide variety of stakeholders on a new initiative that will increase capability to provide a high level of consistently applied pediatric specialty care wherever disaster strikes. (Access the National Disaster Pediatric Initiative FAQ document for more information.)

Children represent 25 percent of the U.S. population and face specialized medical issues due to their unique developmental and physiologic characteristics. Particularly challenging is the management of children’s exposure to infectious diseases, trauma, and other hazards. Pediatric care requires specialized training, equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals. While pediatric hospitals and community-based providers deliver excellent care for children on a day-to-day basis, a nationwide approach is needed to manage the overwhelming and unique medical needs of children after disasters beyond the highly capable system of care available on a daily basis.

ASPR will issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in the coming months to address the first phase of the National Disaster Pediatric Initiative (NDPI) with a pilot project for two Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence. The goal is to ensure that all children receive the best possible care during disasters. The FOA will be developed by ASPR and implemented through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). This initiative will be part of the NDMS and complementary to the Hospital Preparedness Program and the Regional Disaster Health Response System. 

We are seeking general concepts and specific ideas from those in the health care and, more specifically, the pediatric care community about a vision for an archetype of a more comprehensive, enhanced, national capability for pediatric care during disasters.  Ideas should not only be limited to augmentation of current systems, but can also include novel approaches that comprehensively address pediatric disaster care. Please provide your vision of a framework for this initiative to ASPR in two pages or less no later than Friday, April 26, 2019. Submissions should include:

• Proposed development of a pediatric subject matter expert panel that could assist with the development of specialty care treatment protocols, training curriculum and platforms for the care of pediatric patients with focus on management of pediatric patients exposed to infectious diseases, trauma, and other hazards;
• Considerations of the use of telemedicine to support deployment team(s) in providing onsite care; and
• Specialty equipment necessary to meet the unique health care needs of saving the lives of pediatric patients in disasters.

Please send your input and any questions you may have to [email protected] with the subject line: NDMS NDPI – [Your Agency Title].