The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) is pleased to share the updated Emergency Department Paediatric Readiness (EDPR) Checklist.
Part of PCMCH’s EDPR Initiative, the EDPR Checklist helps Ontario hospitals assess how prepared their emergency departments are to care for children and youth who arrive for emergency care. It supports teams in evaluating current practices, identifying opportunities for improvement, and strengthening paediatric readiness.
PCMCH will launch the next EDPR Assessment in Spring 2027. This checklist supports emergency departments to understand key assessment areas and identify potential gaps before completing the assessment survey.
Key updates include:
- A streamlined checklist focused on the most meaningful indicators of paediatric readiness
- Clarified guidance related to paediatric staffing and competencies
- Updated recommendations for paediatric equipment and supplies
- Enhanced alignment with current paediatric best practice recommendations and standards
We encourage emergency departments to review the checklist with their teams and use it to support local readiness planning and continuous quality improvement.
About the EDPR Initiative
The EDPR Initiative is a quality improvement initiative that strengthens emergency departments’ ability to provide safe, high-quality care to children and youth. It provides a standardized approach for assessing paediatric readiness, identifying opportunities for improvement, and strengthening the quality and safety of paediatric emergency care. Key elements of the initiative include the updated checklist, the upcoming province-wide EDPR assessment, and the EDPR Resource Centre – a library of evidence-based resources for clinicians and administrators.
Learn more about the EDPR Initiative. For questions or feedback, please contact . Please share this information with relevant leaders, clinicians, educators and quality improvement teams within your organization.
About PCMCH
Established in 2008, PCMCH provides evidence-based and strategic leadership for perinatal, newborn, child, and youth health services in Ontario. PCMCH is funded by the Government of Ontario.
