Clinical pediatric emergency medicine: New frontiers in pediatric emergency medicine

Guest Editor M. Douglas Baker, MD,FAAP Yale University School of Medicine, Yale-Haven Children’s Hospital, New Haven, CT

Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine: New Frontiers in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

I

T IS DIFFICULT emergency

TO PINPOINT the exact date of birth of pediatric

medicine.

Although

many regard the implementation

of specialty training as the sentinel event, many years of work by a number of dedicated pioneers preceded that milestone.

less of the benchmark remains a relatively

that is used, pediatric

emergency

Regardmedicine

young discipline.

During the past 20 years, pediatric

emergency medicine has grown

and developed considerably.

That growth has occurred in all aspects

of the field. Clinical practice

standards, administrative

research initiatives

have all matured

evolve. That evolution

considerably

of dedicated

work has laid a solid foundation

individuals

gency medicine that influence

amount of volunteer

and institutions.

Their

of aspects of pediatric

emer-

the emergency medical services deliv-

each day. Some of the topics

(eg, point-of-care

testing, urgent care systems, clinical decision unit development, of physician

extenders,

applications

of technological

issues. Others (eg, continuing

education,

interface with primary

forensic medicine, important

components

that are underexposed.

Rounding

of pediatric

use

advances) pri-

marily address service-related examine

to

for future growth.

In this issue, we explore a variety ered to children

and continue

has not resulted from random or spontaneous

events; rather, it is the product of a considerable effort by a number

systems, and

medical

care providers)

emergency

medicine

out this issue of Clinical

Pediatric

224

Preface

Emergency principal

Medicine founders

prognostications

is an article

by one of the

of our field who offers some

about the future

direction

of our

field. We live in a dynamic be interesting

and exciting era. It will

to see if our authors’ projections

will

come to light.

specialty. Although

there is little

new data incorporated

into these articles, all are worthwhile authors have diligently tiers in pediatric less conventional these writings ticipate

readings. The

addressed important

emergency

medicine;

fron-

some are

than others. I hope that you enjoy and find yourself

motivated

in the ongoing evolutionary

to par-

process of our

M. Douglas Baker, MD Director and Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, New Haven, CT Guest Editor Copyright

0 2001

by W.B. doi:

Saunders

Company.

10.1053/cpem.2001.29297