Child Physical Abuse

For members of our community who are NOT medical providers, if you suspect a child has been or is being abused, seek help through your local child protective agency. 

• Kansas
• Missouri

Clinical Pathways promote evidence-based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.

Clinical Pathway:

• Child Physical Abuse Algorithm
• Child Physical Abuse Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway) 

Additional tools associated with this Clinical Pathway:

• Child Protector App
• Provider Education Video (available to Children's Mercy providers through the Child Abuse Toolkit)
• Social Work Education Video (available to Children's Mercy social workers through the Child Abuse Toolkit)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for this Clinical Pathway:

• Inclusion:
  • < 18 years of age
  • If > 18 years of age, contact Social Work for guidance
• Exclusion:
  • Injury due to a motor vehicle or bike accident
  • Non-abusive injury witnessed by multiple people
  • Injury occurring at birth

Committee members involved in the development:

• Emily Killough, MD | SCAN Clinic, Division of Child Adversity and Resilience | Committee Chair
• Danielle Horton, MD | SCAN Clinic, Division of Child Adversity and Resilience | Committee Member
• Erin Scott, DO | Pediatric Emergency Medicine | Committee Member
• Holly Austin, MD, FAAP | Urgent Care Center | Committee Member
• David Juang, MD | Surgery | Committee Member
• Hank Puls, MD | Hospital Medicine| Committee Member
• Ryan Northup, MD | General Academic Pediatrics | Committee Member
• Danny Dooling, MD | Medicine-Pediatrics Resident | Committee Member
• Michelle Camerer, LSCSW, LCSW | Clinical Social Work | Committee Member
• Danica Harris, LCSW, LSCSW | Clinical Social Work – ED/After Hours | Committee Member
• Roneika Moore, DNP, RN | Emergency Department | Committee Member
• Sarah Fouquet, PhD | Quality, Safety with Human Factors | Committee Member
• Kerri Kuntz, MSN, CPPS, CPHQ, RNC-OB, C-EFM | Quality and Safety | Committee Member
• DeeJo Miller, BA | Patient and Family Engagement | Committee Member
• Kaylee Hurt, BS | Patient and Family Engagement | Committee Member
• Angie Williams, BSN, RN-BC, CPN | Clinical Practice and Quality | Committee Member
• Sarah Dierking, MSN, RN, CPHQ | Clinical Practice and Quality | Committee Member

Patient/Family Committee member:

• Melanie Traynham | Committee Member

EBP Committee Members:

• Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Hospitalist, Evidence Based Practice
• Kelli Ott, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice

Publication dates:

• Finalized date: 09/2024
• Next expected revision date: 09/2027

Concerns with content:

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu. 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.