Optimal Resources for Children's Surgical Care 2021

Optimal Resources for Children’s Surgical Care, 2021 is the nation’s first and only multispecialty standards for children’s surgical care.

Why this matters: It contains 104 standards developed to improve and sustain the quality of care for pediatric patients.

What it does: It details the principles regarding quality improvement and safety processes, data collection, and the verification process. It evaluates 3 levels of care aligned with the standards and expected scope of practice at a verified CSV hospital.

Program Standards: Key Points

Alongside the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA), the Society of Pediatric Anesthesiologists (SPA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and other organizations, the ACS developed these standards based on evidence and expert consensus. 

The standards address the gaps between individual patient needs and available resources for pediatric patients requiring care. 

Specialized pediatric care goes beyond just surgical teams. The standards include guidance for:

• Anesthesia
• NICU
• PICU
• Emergency Medicine