LA Peds Ready 2.0

The Los Angeles County Pediatric Readiness Project 2.0 (LA Peds Ready 2.0) launched February 19, with 38 hospitals participating across the county.

Led by Harbor–UCLA Medical Center and funded by the Hospital Preparedness Program in partnership with the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, the project strengthens emergency department (ED) readiness to care for children.

Why Pediatric Readiness Matters

High levels of Pediatric Readiness are associated with:

  • Up to 76% reduction in mortality for critically ill children
  • Up to 60% reduction in mortality for injured children
  • An estimated 2,143 children’s lives saved each year nationwide
  • ED costs ranging from $4 to $48 per child

The current national median for Pediatric Readiness is 70%, leaving significant room for improvement.

Project Leadership

Our team:

How the Program Works

LA Peds Ready 2.0 supports both EDAP and non-EDAP hospitals through a structured improvement process:

  1. Complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment
    (March 3 – May 31, 2026)
  2. Receive a readiness score and gap analysis
  3. Address one or more gap areas over 18–24 months
  4. Complete a post-participation assessment to measure improvement

Education & Training Model

The program pairs Pediatric Liaison Nurses (EDAP hospitals) with Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (non-EDAP hospitals) using a train-the-trainer approach.

Participating EDs complete:

  • Case simulations
  • 9 PECC training modules
  • 2–3 interactive clinical learning modules
  • Special pathogens training (e.g., H5N1)
  • Ongoing engagement with lapedsready.org resources

Resources

LA Peds Ready 2.0 kickoff meeting

LA Peds Ready 2.0 kickoff meeting Recording

LA Peds Ready 2.0 is a collaborative effort to ensure that every emergency department in Los Angeles County is prepared to provide high-quality, life-saving care for children.