FL H1119

Hospital emergency departments must develop and implement evidence-based policies and procedures for pediatric patient care covering triage, vital signs, weighing in kilograms, medication dosage calculations, and use of pediatric instruments, with annual staff training including clinical simulations and emergency drills.

Each hospital emergency department must designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator—who must be a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, or paramedic—responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the pediatric care policies.

Hospital emergency departments are required to conduct the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment per timelines set by the National Pediatric Readiness Project, and may voluntarily conduct the Project's Open Assessment during off-cycle years.

The Agency for Health Care Administration, in consultation with the Florida Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program, must adopt rules establishing minimum standards for pediatric patient care in emergency departments, including availability of pediatric-specific equipment and supplies.

The agency must collect National Pediatric Readiness Assessment scores by December 31, 2026, and publish each hospital's score with a comparison to the national average by April 1, 2027, with ongoing collection and publication in subsequent assessment years; effective July 1, 2025.