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Covenant Children's is proud to announce it has been awarded the Texas EMS for Children Voluntary Pediatric Recognition Program (VPRP) certification. This prestigious recognition exemplifies the hospital's unwavering commitment to providing superior emergency medical care to ill or injured pediatric patients within our West Texas and eastern New Mexico community. The Texas EMS for Children Voluntary Pediatric Recognition Program is designed to prepare emergency departments to effectively manage pediatric emergencies. As the region's only free- standing hospital just for kids, by becoming a VPRP-recognized facility Covenant Children's is demonstrating its dedication to going above and beyond in assuring that its emergency department is fully equipped and staff appropriately trained and prepared to care for children. "Achieving this recognition underscores our commitment to the health and well-being of our community 's children," said Shannon Bates, Covenant Children's chief nursing officer. "Covenant Children's is the only hospital in our region to obtain the Pedi Readiness recognition. Our recognition highlights the dedication and expertise of our physicians, nurses, and entire clinical staff, ensuring that we are always ready to provide the highest quality of care during pediatric emergencies." Similar to trauma center designation, a pediatric readiness program aids facilities in self-identifying areas in which they can optimize care. Unlike trauma center designation, however, the purpose of the VPRP does NOT designate, nor does it differentiate emergency departments based on the level of care they can provide for children. Rather, the purpose is to promote basic readiness for ALL emergency departments to be able to provide initial stabilization of children with emergency conditions given that nationally 30% of ED patients are children. Furthermore, more than 80% of children are seen in general EDs when they have an emergency, not at a children's hospital. The intent of the VPRP is to equip all EDs with the ability to safely treat and manage children in their own communities when appropriate, not to bypass these facilities. The program is multitiered with three separate levels of recognition. Each level has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of recognition. Each hospital goes through a site review by a team of experienced site reviewers. Hospitals that are recognized through this program must meet the essential criteria set forth by the VPRP, as outlined in the Joint Policy Statement—Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department. Covenant Children's is honored to receive this recognition and will continue to strive for excellence in pediatric emergency care. This achievement not only benefits the hospital and its staff but also assures parents and guardians that Covenant Children's is a trusted partner in the health and safety of their children. Community Connection: Covenant Health | 6 Covenant Children's Earns Texas EMS for Children Voluntary Pediatric Recognition Program Certification

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