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State Spotlight - Pennsylvania
 Last updated: March 2012
Vick Zittle
Pennsylvania American Academy of Pediatrics / Child Death Review
1400 N. Providence Road, Ste 3007
Media, PA 19063
Phone: 484-446-3034
Fax: 484-446-3255
Email: vzittle@paaap.org
Erich Batra, MD, FAAP
Medical Director, Child Death Review
1400 N. Providence Road, Ste 3007
Media, PA 19063
Phone: 484-446-3040
Fax: 484-446-3255
Website: http://www.pacdrt.org/
Reports
Mortality Statistics
Program Description
Administration
Pennsylvania's CDR Program was established in November 1994. It began
as a pilot study without legislation. In October 2008, Pennsylvania passed a law
mandating child death reviews. The
program has an annual budget of $130,000 and is funded by the
Department of Health and Department of Public Welfare. Funding for the
program is on a three-year contract. The program is housed out of the
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are 1.75 employees at the state level that staff the program.
Teams
Pennsylvania has both a state team and local teams.
State Team: (Chairperson - Dr. Carolyn Cass)
The team is comprised of selected members and representation from all 64 Local Teams.
Local Teams: (Chairperson - Facilitating
Organization)
Pennsylvania has 64 local review teams. Sixty-five of the 67
counties in the state participate on state and/or local teams.
Teams do not receive any
funding from the state.
Reviews
Pennsylvania CDR teams review all deaths of children from birth through their 21st year. There are approximately 2,000 deaths each year. At this time team are reviewing 97% of all child deaths.
Purpose
Pennsylvania Child Death Review has a focus on prevention. This activity is accomplished by identifying factors which cause a risk for injury and death, including modifiable risk factors; making recommendations regarding the improvement of health and safety policies in the Commonwealth and coordinating services and investigations. Local teams make recommendations relating to the procedures and other actions to local agencies to reduce injury and death of children.
Data
Standardized data reporting forms are completed for all reviews. The Pennsylvania Public Health Child Death Review Act states that local team shall utilize the National Child Death Review Data Collection System to report its findings in accordance with the established protocol . Pennsylvania Bureau of Research and Statistics provide data to the current contracted agency for monitoring and distribution. Local teams are provided data for both births and deaths Additionally, local teams can request traffic fatality reports.
Annual Report
Pennsylvania produces an annual report that is submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly by September of each year. The report includes summary of reports received by local child death review teams and recommendations relating to the reduction of risk of child injury and death. Annual reports are posted on both the PA Department Health and the PA CDRT resource website.
Prevention Initiatives
Examples of how CDR findings have
motivated prevention activities include local projects that are
developed and implemented by local teams and their community prevention
partners – In February 2012, PA Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health awarded over $46,000 for 11 No-Bid Contract to Local CDR Team Communities.
PA CDRT Executive Committee (State Advisory) set priorities for 2012 as follows:
Death Scene Investigations: A collaborative effort to develop education that will include information sharing and development of community protocol with the Pennsylvania’s Coroner, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Child Protection, Public Health and Medical/Legal Advisory.
Suicide Prevention: PA CDRT will continued provide support to Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative. PA CDRT Medical Director, Dr. Erich Batra Chairs the Initiative Monitoring and Executive Committee.
Safe Sleep: Recommendation continue to encourage CDR teams to collaborate with key stakeholders within their communities in the develop “Cribs for Kids”.
Protocols
Pennsylvania CDR has confidentiality protocols in place.
Training
Training is provided and funded through the contract budget. All CDR members are invited to attend an annual meeting.
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