The Center for Global Nursing collaborates with Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) on the American Academy of Pediatrics' ICATCH Grant (2025–2028) to strengthen the identification and stabilization of critically ill children at the only pediatric referral hospital in northern Laos, which serves more than 45,000 children annually. This collaboration builds on over a decade of partnership with LFHC and reflects a shared commitment to advancing nursing leadership, promoting health equity, and delivering high-quality emergency care for children across northern Laos.
Program Objectives
1. Analyze and Identify Solutions for Gaps: Conduct Emergency and Critical Care Readiness Assessments to evaluate current emergency response capacity and identify opportunities to strengthen policies, medical supplies, resources, and clinical competencies for the care of critically ill children.
2. Implement Emergency Triage, Assessments, and Treatment: Implement the World Health Organization’s Emergency Triage, Assessment & Treatment framework using a Train-the-Trainer Model to support sustained capacity building, ongoing education, evaluation, and hospital-wide implementation.
3. Strengthen Clinical and Technical Proficiency: Expand access to essential pediatric emergency and simulation equipment while strengthening lifesaving skills. Nurses practice resuscitation with real-time CPR feedback through hands-on simulation-based education as a result of the Laerdal Emergency Care Learning Lab and Laerdal app.
Principal Investigators
Maly Chittaphai, RN
Nursing Director | Lao Friends Hospital for Children
Rebecca Silvers, DNP, CPNP-AC
Director | Center for Global Nursing
Program Collaborators
Si Lee, RN
Incoming Nursing Director | Lao Friends Hospital for Children
Kim Branciforte, MSN, RN, PHN
Pediatric Outreach Educator | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
