An online decision support tool, providing specialist diagnostic advice for paediatricians, GPs and nurses, along with other healthcare professionals, will ensure children get the right treatment at the earliest opportunity – preventing delays in care and potentially reducing avoidable child deaths.
Child health experts say that Paediatric Care Online (PCO UK), hosted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and developed by a partnership group, could contribute towards reducing the UK’s 2,000 avoidable deaths each year by ensuring that the right children get referred to hospitals and other specialist services, whilE others are seen in more appropriate settings.
Through the use of Key Practice Points – decision support tools that cover common signs and symptoms and critical care situations – PCO UK will also help healthcare professionals feel more secure about which patients can safely be managed at home.
Dr Hilary Cass, clinical lead for Paediatric Care Online (PCO UK) and member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said: “PCO UK will improve patient safety and reduce hospital admissions by providing healthcare professionals with immediate, professionally assured, evidenced based guidance together with a host of supporting reference materials and patient/carer information. This will enable professionals to diagnose early, treat, prescribe, or signpost timely referral to the most appropriate service.”
PCO UK is now included in RCPCH membership fees, giving RCPCH members instant access to content. To subscribe to Paediatric Care Online, visit www.pcouk.org
