Heather Crouse, M.D.

From Dr. Crouse

Now finished with her combined Pediatric Emergency and International Health fellowships, Dr. Crouse is involved in the development and implementation of curriculum and training programs in resource-limited international settings. Specifically she and colleague Susan Torrey, MD, have been working with Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) as consultants since October 2007. One of their projects has been to use the WHO Emergency Triage Assessment and Training (ETAT) tool to develop an effective, sustainable local ETAT training program for non-healthcare staff and healthcare providers and to utilize this program to integrate ETAT guidelines into clinical practice at healthcare facilities throughout Lesotho. Project processes have included development of supplemental course material (such as PowerPoint presentations, case scenarios, skill stations, detailed facilitator instructions, and evaluation tools), curriculum modifications to reflect local needs and resources, train-the-trainer programs, and collaborative implementation planning. Last year they began looking for an opportunity to develop an ETAT training program in Latin America and have since obtained funding to develop and implement a local run sustainable ETAT training program in Antigua, Guatemala. Dr. Crouse led the creation, development, and modification of the above curriculum for participant and facilitator courses and evaluation tools in Spanish. She is collaborating with Pan American Health Organization for editing and translation of materials and obtained a TCH educational grant to evaluate the impact of the triage system over the following year. In May 2009, they held the inaugural ETAT train-the-trainer program in Antigua and trainings of all pediatric healthcare providers at the local hospital are underway.

Goal: To provide state-of-the-art health care to children seeking emergent services.

Objectives:

• Deliver individualized, high-quality health care to the emergently ill or injured children
• Advance excellence in emergency pediatrics through innovations in research
• Provide world-class education and training in pediatric emergency medicine
• Advance the causes of safety and security for all children through advocacy for their medical, physical and emotional needs

Please note that Dr. Crouse only sees patients in the Emergency Center and does not accept appointments.