Saint Louis University, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Receive $2.15 Million Award as Part of Regional Pediatric Prevention Network

Saint Louis University, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Receive $2.15 Million Award as Part of Regional Pediatric Prevention Network

The sub-grant is part of more than $22.5 million awarded annually in continued funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital have received a $2.15 million award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the continuation of operations as a Pediatric Prevention Network (PPN).

The funds are a portion of the $22.5 million awarded to Pediatrics Prevention Network, over the course of a 5-year period, to help the organization expand its efforts beyond pandemic preparedness to strengthen all pediatric response capabilities.

The PPN provides a multitude of preparedness tools to SLUCare pediatricians, Cardinal Glennon and the St. Louis Community, including education for medical personnel, non-medical community leaders and families, as well as a collaborative environment for sharing best-practices and lessons learned from partner hospitals. With the help of the PPN, Cardinal Glennon is aiming to fill gaps in education, equipment and planning for the next time a disaster occurs.

"Disasters give us little to no warning before they arrive, and in an instant, we need a coordinated medical response to a large group of people," said Timothy Staed, M.D., primary investigator for PPN at Cardinal Glennon and adjunct professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. "PPN provides us with a multitude of preparedness tools for these events."

The first five years of the Pediatric Prevention Network grant (2021-2026) focused on improving disaster preparedness and response among the nation's children's hospitals. The focus of the upcoming 5-year grant changes the emphasis more towards improving disaster preparedness and response in the St. Louis community. That includes community hospitals, community groups, health care coalitions, schools, churches, and any other community entity that plays a role in the care of children.

"Cardinal Glennon has always been at the forefront of helping children in need. This grant will help us better prepare others in our community, and in the network, provide quality clinical care when sudden, unexpected need arises, particularly when such need affects large groups of children." said Andrew J White, M.D., chairman of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and chief medical officer at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

Pediatrics Prevention Network at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and the SLUCare physicians who care for patients there are a part of the HRSA-funded national coalition of 14 Children's hospitals. Each PPN hospital has been tasked with helping the nation's other children's hospitals and local communities improve disaster preparedness and response. Each of the 14 PPN hospitals has been given specific focus areas that correlate with the hospital's specialties.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: infectious disease, liver disease, cancer, heart/lung disease, and aging and brain disorders.

About SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital

Since 1956, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital has offered the highest level of care as the country's only free-standing, non-profit Catholic pediatric hospital. Located in St. Louis, MO, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon provides hope to thousands of children with complex conditions from Missouri, Illinois, and beyond. A member of SSM Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the country, the 195-bed teaching hospital is staffed by SLUCare physicians affiliated with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Since 2013, U.S. News & World Report has recognized SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's as a Best Children's Hospital.