Safer Care for Children in Hospital research program

The Safer Care for Children in Hospital Research Program commenced in 2019 as the ESCALATION research project which involved the development of an evidence-based early warning system for recognising and responding to clinical deterioration in WA paediatric healthcare settings.

Perth Children’s Hospital, all other WA Health facilities, private hospitals, St John Ambulance WA, Royal Flying Doctor Service WA, and St John WA Urgent Care Clinics caring for sick children now use the early warning system, known as the ESCALATION system.

Components of the ESCALATION System

A key component of ESCALATION is its incorporation of family input in reporting changes in their child’s condition that can indicate early signs of deteriorating health. Family involvement is integrated in the ESCALATION System through proactively asking families:

• How do you think your child is doing?
• Has anything changed?
• Are you worried your child is getting worse?

To support families to report changes they notice in their child’s condition the Tell us if you are worried poster was co-designed with health consumers and is now displayed at patient bedsides in emergency departments and hospital wards.

Program focus

Projects under the Safer Care for Children program seek to strengthen and refine the ESCALATION system. They include studies to optimise family involvement in reporting patient deterioration, particularly Aboriginal families, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

More information

For more information about these studies visit the ESCALATION website.