Children's Hospitals Herald President's Signing Of Bioterrorism Bill; Children's Hospitals To Play A Key Role In Preparedness

6/12/2002

From: Gillian Ray of the National Association of Children's Hospitals, 703-797-6027 or gray@nachri.org Web: http://www.childrenshospitals.net

WASHINGTON, June 12 -- President George W. Bush today signed a landmark bioterrorism bill that authorizes funding for states' bioterrorism preparedness and specifically includes children in all major preparedness efforts. National Association of Children's Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) President and CEO Lawrence A. McAndrews released the following statement.

"Children's hospitals herald President Bush's signing of the bioterrorism bill because it includes provisions that specifically address children's unique health needs. Now it is imperative for the federal government to hold itself and states accountable for ensuring that preparedness plans do, in fact, address children's needs, for example, in the stockpiling of drugs and vaccines and in implementing training and research programs to strengthen bioterrorism response readiness.

"As frontline providers of emergency and critical care to children, children's hospitals are working with fellow 'first responders,' local government, health agencies, adult hospitals and schools to ensure we provide the best care possible to children who are victims of bioterrorist attacks.

"Children are a vulnerable population and are affected differently than adults by such things as nerve agents and other toxins. As pediatric specialists and leaders in the fields of infectious disease, poison control and emergency medicine, children's hospitals are critical to ensuring communities' appropriate response to children impacted by bioterrorism. We are particularly encouraged that the legislation recognizes the need to include children's hospitals in the development of partnerships among hospitals and other providers.

"At the national level, children's hospitals will continue to advise and educate lawmakers on the physiological and psychological differences between children and adults. N.A.C.H. has established a panel of experts to assist in this capacity. Comprised of executive and medical leadership from children's hospitals, the panel includes:

-- Steven Altschuler, M.D., president and CEO, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

-- Nancy Blake, R.N., director, Critical Care Services, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

-- Ralph D. Feigin, M.D., president and CEO, Baylor College of Medicine and physician-in-chief, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX

-- Fred Henretig, M.D., medical director, Poison Control Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

-- Peter R. Holbrook, M.D., chief medical officer, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

-- Irwin Redlener, M.D., president, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY

-- Michael W. Shannon, M.D., M.P.H., acting chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA

-- Cynthia Sparer, executive director, Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY

-- Edwin K. Zechman, Jr., president and CEO, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.

"Because of the efforts of children's hospitals and other leading pediatric organizations, this bioterrorism bill recognizes that one size does not fit all -- that children need different medication dosages, equipment, medical care and counseling. It strengthens our ability to coordinate and provide appropriate pediatric care following any bioterrorist attack."