Pediatric medical procedures require more specialized knowledge, equipment and resources than do adult procedures. However, each year, many U.S. children undergo procedures in facilities that are geared more toward adult care. Task force members want to increase safety for children undergoing surgical procedures by classifying hospitals and surgical centers according to the level of care and specialized resources they offer to pediatric patients.

Their recommendations, which were published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, suggest that surgical facilities by classified as:

• Level I: For facilities that provide comprehensive care and equipment to treat children and are staffed round the clock by pediatric specialists
• Level II: For facilities that offer advanced pediatric care
• Level III: For facilities that offer basic surgical care

You can learn more in this article: Standardizing Pediatric Surgery Through Classifications which was written by David Bernard and published in Outpatient Surgery Magazine.