Research
Although the primary mission of the CHAM Pediatric Emergency Department is to provide a safety net for poor and unaffiliated children who may otherwise have no access to healthcare, the Department is also deeply committed to answering clinically relevant questions through a focus on translational and clinical research.
Our team has published original studies, review articles, chapters and abstracts on a variety of topics. We are currently conducting research on:
Reducing X-rays with Point-of-Care Ultrasound
CHAM pediatric emergency medicine researchers have shown that point-of-care sonographic identification of an elevated posterior fat pad and lipohemarthrosis is a feasible, accurate and reliable marker for elbow fractures. Using this imaging modality to rule out fracture can reduce the use of radiographs in about 50 percent of children, thus avoiding radiation and reducing their time in the Emergency Department. Researchers are also studying point-of-care sonography for other musculoskeletal injuries and acute chest pain in sickle cell patients.
Improving Anxiolysis for Children Undergoing Laceration Repair
Researchers in the CHAM Emergency Department are conducting a study evaluating the use of virtual reality as anxiolysis for children undergoing laceration repair. By providing immersive distraction techniques clinician-investigators hope to make the laceration repairs a less frightening experience for children.
Enhancing Patient Safety in the ED
Investigators at CHAM have a Federation of Jewish Philanthropies grant to study the implementation of scribes in an urban academic pediatric emergency department and its impact on patient safety and satisfaction. By removing some of the burden of documentation, physicians should be able to spend additional time face-to-face with their patients.
Identifying Children at Risk for Serious Bacterial Illness
CHAM Pediatric Emergency Medicine researchers are investigating the presentation and causes of fever in children in certain high-risk groups (young infants, children with sickle cell disease) to determine the current incidence of bacteremia and serious bacterial illness in these children and to validate common risk stratification criteria used in the Emergency Department.