Inpatient pediatric cardiovascular patients have higher rates of cardiopulmonary arrests than other
hospitalized children. Pediatric early warning scoring tools have helped to provide early identification
and treatment to hospitalized children experiencing deterioration thus preventing arrests from occurring.
However, the tools have rarely been used and have not been validated in the pediatric cardiac
population. This paper describes the modification of a pediatric early warning scoring system for
cardiovascular patients, the implementation of the tool, and its companion Escalation of Care Algorithm
on an inpatient pediatric cardiovascular unit.
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.