Pediatric Trauma Specialists Converge for Summit to Determine Future Outcomes for Injured Children in US

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma has partnered with the Pediatric Trauma Society (PTS) to co-host a national pediatric trauma conference at Graylyn International Conference Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Childress Summit of the PTS assessed the state of pediatric trauma care in the U.S. and created a 10-year plan for best practices in research, treatment and education.

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"Life-threatening injuries kill more children in America than all other causes combined, and it is our mission to save the lives of injured children," said CIPT Executive Director Dr. Wayne Meredith. "The Childress Summit of the PTS will define the knowledge gaps in pediatric trauma through research, treatment and education strategies to close those gaps. The summit is unique in the breadth and depth of talent converging to address pediatric trauma."

Nearly 10,000 children die each year due to life-threatening injuries – more than all other causes combined. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma and PTS are dedicated to improving outcomes for critically injured children across the U.S.

"The membership of PTS includes the leaders in pediatric trauma throughout the country," said Trauma Program Manager of Cincinnati Children's Hospital and President of PTS Lynn Haas. "Our goal is to leave this summit with a plan to impact the No. 1 killer of children in America. It is up to us to layout the changes needed and then find the funding sources to make those changes happen. Together, we will save the lives of more critically injured children."

Attendees included 56 representatives from 18 states representing children's hospitals, trauma centers, research facilities and government agencies across the U.S., including:

Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children
Boston Children's Hospital
Brenner Children's Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital of Colorado
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh at UPMC
Children's National Medical Center
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York
Columbia University, Harlem Hospital Center
Cook Children's Medical Center
Dell Children's Medical Center
EMSC at Children's National Medical Center
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Kosair Children's Hospital
Medical College of Wisconsin Institute for Health and Society
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Phoenix Children's Hospital
St. Mary's Medical Center
Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii
Tufts University School of Medicine
Department of Health & Human Services, ASPR, Emergency Care Coordination Center
UF&Shands Jacksonsville
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
University of Utah School of Medicine
Wake Forest School of Medicine

To learn more about pediatric trauma, visit www.InjuredKids.org, or find the Childress Institute on Twitter @injuredkids and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChildressPediatricTrauma. To join the PTS, visit www.PediatricTraumaSociety.org.

About the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma
The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma's mission is to lead national efforts to reduce death and disability following injury to children less than 18 years old. Life-threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children die each year – more than all other causes combined. The Childress Institute invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was established through the generosity of Richard and Judy Childress. For more information, please visit www.InjuredKids.org.

About the Pediatric Trauma Society
The Pediatric Trauma Society is a professional organization for all providers that are interested in improving outcomes for injured children through development of optimal care guidelines, education, research and advocacy. PTS is the product of the collaborative vision of many pediatric trauma healthcare providers from around the world. Filling a void, PTS is working toward becoming the resource for both pediatric and adult trauma care providers to improve pediatric trauma care regardless of where injured children are cared for. To join the Pediatric Trauma Society, visit www.PediatricTraumaSociety.org.

For additional information, contact:
Kara Thompson
Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma
(336) 491-9766
[email protected]

SOURCE Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma