Emergent Pediatric Neurosurgery Contingency Plan

Original Date: 02/2017 | Supersedes: 02/2017, 10/2017, 09/2021 | Last Review Date: 02/2024 (Reviewed with no changes)
Purpose: The purpose of this guideline is to provide a defined contingency plan for times when the on-call neurosurgeon is unable to respond to the emergent need of a patient.

Procedure

If there is a time that the primary pediatric neurosurgeon attending is not available for the emergent need of a patient;

  1. Call the back up on-call neurosurgeon
  2. If the back up on-call pediatric neurosurgeon is not available then call the third pediatric neurosurgeon listed on the call schedule.
  3. If all of the pediatric neurosurgeons are encumbered and not available then proceed to the adult neurosurgeon on-call schedule.
  4. If all neurosurgeons are encumbered trauma surgeons will provide initial evaluation and stabilization.
  5. Should neurosurgery services become overwhelmed EMS will be notified via EM resources by placing the facility on neurosurgery saturation.
  6. Trauma team will facility transfer arrangement with another level 1 pediatric trauma center.
  7. Any patient requiring transfer out due to encumbered neurosurgeon will be reviewed in the PIPS process.