Fiona Muttalib

Children with new-onset, life-threatening illnesses require timely access to high-quality hospital care to ensure prompt return to health. Due to British Columbia’s expansive geography, these hospital services are delivered through a referral system whereby community hospitals provide initial treatment and seek advice from specialized pediatric hospitals as needed. In our study we will 1) Describe regional differences in burden of pediatric critical illness in BC and outcomes during and after admission to hospital using retrospective data and 2) Co-design with key stakeholders (patient and family representatives, healthcare provider collaborators) an approach to measuring health equity factors that may impact the healthcare experience and outcomes of children with life-threatening illness. Findings of our research will improve our understanding of the needs of critically ill children in BC and inform initiatives to monitor and improve the quality of care they receive with a focus on equity.