Director of Research, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Recognition & Awards
Patient-Family Experience Award, Children's Hospital Colorado
(2023)
Recognizes providers achieving top scores from patients and families
Excellence in Quality and Patient Safety, Children's Hospital Colorado
(2020)
The Pediatric Sepsis Program received this award, which recognizes a multidisciplinary team which has made an outstanding contribution to patient safety and clinical outcomes
Research Interests
I am interested in improving the rapid diagnosis and treatment of infection in children, in a life-threatening condition called sepsis. Working with teams at Children's Hospital Colorado, we have made great strides in improving early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis here. I also conduct research in Colorado and nationally to try to improve our knowledge of the best ways to diagnose and treat sepsis in children. Finally, I am involved in national and international committees developing guidelines and recommendations for the best ways for hospitals to identify and treat sepsis.
Teaching
Associate Professor
(2017)
School of Medicine,
Pediatrics
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Publications
Balamuth F, Scott HF. The Challenge of Identifying Sepsis in Children. Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Oct;82(4):503-504. PubMed PMID: 37436345
Slatnick LR, Miller K, Scott HF, Loi M, Esbenshade AJ, Franklin A, Lee-Sherick AB. Serum lactate is associated with increased illness severity in immunocompromised pediatric hematology oncology patients presenting to the emergency department with fever. Front Oncol. 2022;12:990279. PubMed PMID: 36276165
Scott HF, Kempe A, Bajaj L, Lindberg DM, Dafoe A, Dorsey Holliman B. "These Are Our Kids": Qualitative Interviews With Clinical Leaders in General Emergency Departments on Motivations, Processes, and Guidelines in Pediatric Sepsis Care. Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Oct;80(4):347-357. PubMed PMID: 35840434
Eisenberg MA, Riggs R, Paul R, Balamuth F, Richardson T, DeSouza HG, Abbadesa MK, DeMartini TKM, Frizzola M, Lane R, Lloyd J, Melendez E, Patankar N, Rutman L, Sebring A, Timmons Z, Scott HF. Association Between the First-Hour Intravenous Fluid Volume and Mortality in Pediatric Septic Shock. Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Sep;80(3):213-224. PubMed PMID: 35641356
Martin B, DeWitt PE, Scott HF, Parker S, Bennett TD. Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Absence of Serious Bacterial Infection at PICU Admission. Hosp Pediatr. 2022 Jun 1;12(6):590-603. PubMed PMID: 35634885
Balamuth F, Scott HF, Weiss SL, Webb M, Chamberlain JM, Bajaj L, Depinet H, Grundmeier RW, Campos D, Deakyne Davies SJ, Simon NJ, Cook LJ, Alpern ER. Validation of the Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score and Evaluation of Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock Definitions in the Pediatric Emergency Department. JAMA Pediatr. 2022 Jul 1;176(7):672-678. PubMed PMID: 35575803
Nathaniel ED, Scott HF, Wathen B, Schmidt SK, Rolison E, Smith C, Hays MJ, Lockwood JM. Confidence-weighted Testing as an Impactful Education Intervention within a Pediatric Sepsis Quality Improvement Initiative. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2021 Sep-Oct;6(5):e460. PubMed PMID: 34476312
Lockwood JM, Scott HF, Wathen B, Rolison E, Smith C, Bundy J, Swanson A, Nickels S, Bakel LA, Bajaj L. An Acute Care Sepsis Response System Targeting Improved Antibiotic Administration. Hosp Pediatr. 2021 Sep;11(9):944-955. PubMed PMID: 34404744
Scott HF, Bennett TD. Automated emergency department sepsis screening appears superior to manual screening. J Pediatr. 2021 Jul;234:286-288. PubMed PMID: 34172164
Paul R, Niedner M, Brilli R, Macias C, Riggs R, Balamuth F, Depinet H, Larsen G, Huskins C, Scott H, Lucasiewicz G, Schaffer M, DeSouza HG, Silver P, Richardson T, Hueschen L, Campbell D, Wathen B, Auletta JJ. Metric Development for the Multicenter Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO) Collaborative. Pediatrics. 2021 May;147(5). PubMed PMID: 33795482
Scott HF, Colborn KL, Sevick CJ, Bajaj L, Deakyne Davies SJ, Fairclough D, Kissoon N, Kempe A. Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Pediatric Septic Shock Using Data Known 2 Hours After Hospital Arrival. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 Jan 1;22(1):16-26. PubMed PMID: 33060422
Menon K, Schlapbach LJ, Akech S, Argent A, Biban P, Carrol ED, Chiotos K, Jobayer Chisti M, Evans IVR, Inwald DP, Ishimine P, Kissoon N, Lodha R, Nadel S, Oliveira CF, Peters M, Sadeghirad B, Scott HF, de Souza DC, Tissieres P, Watson RS, Wiens MO, Wynn JL, Zimmerman JJ, Sorce LR. Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Pediatric Sepsis Definition Taskforce. Crit Care Med. 2021 Oct 6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34612847
Larsen GY, Brilli R, Macias CG, Niedner M, Auletta JJ, Balamuth F, Campbell D, Depinet H, Frizzola M, Hueschen L, Lowerre T, Mack E, Paul R, Razzaqi F, Schafer M, Scott HF, Silver P, Wathen B, Lukasiewicz G, Stuart J, Riggs R, Richardson T, Ward L, Huskins WC. Development of a Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative to Improve Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes. Pediatrics. 2021 Jan;147(1). PubMed PMID: 33328337
Scott HF, Colborn KL, Sevick CJ, Bajaj L, Deakyne Davies SJ, Fairclough D, Kissoon N, Kempe A. Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Pediatric Septic Shock Using Data Known 2 Hours After Hospital Arrival. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33060422
Balamuth F, Alpern ER, Scott HF. The Need for Risk Stratification Tools in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Pediatrics. 2020 Oct;146(4). PubMed PMID: 32978293
Greenwald E, Olds E, Leonard J, Deakyne Davies SJ, Brant J, Scott HF. Pediatric Sepsis in Community Emergency Care Settings: Guideline Concordance and Outcomes. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2020 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32941361
Scott HF, Brilli RJ, Paul R, Macias CG, Niedner M, Depinet H, Richardson T, Riggs R, Gruhler H, Larsen GY, Huskins WC, Balamuth F. Evaluating Pediatric Sepsis Definitions Designed for Electronic Health Record Extraction and Multicenter Quality Improvement. Crit Care Med. 2020 Oct;48(10):e916-e926. PubMed PMID: 32931197
Scott HF, Kempe A, Deakyne Davies SJ, Krack P, Leonard J, Rolison E, Mackenzie J, Wathen B, Bajaj L. Managing Diagnostic Uncertainty in Pediatric Sepsis Quality Improvement with a Two-Tiered Approach. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2020 Jan-Feb;5(1):e244. PubMed PMID: 32766482
Scott HF, Balamuth F, Alpern ER. The Legacy of Pediatric Sepsis State Legislation. Pediatrics. 2020 Jul;146(1). PubMed PMID: 32605993
Slatnick LR, Thornhill D, Deakyne Davies SJ, Ford JB, Scott HF, Manco-Johnson MJ, Warren BB. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Is an Independent Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in Children in the Emergency Department with Suspected Sepsis. J Pediatr. 2020 Oct;225:198-206.e2. PubMed PMID: 32553867
Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP, Nadel S, Schlapbach LJ, Tasker RC, Argent AC, Brierley J, Carcillo J, Carrol ED, Carroll CL, Cheifetz IM, Choong K, Cies JJ, Cruz AT, De Luca D, Deep A, Faust SN, De Oliveira CF, Hall MW, Ishimine P, Javouhey E, Joosten KFM, Joshi P, Karam O, Kneyber MCJ, Lemson J, MacLaren G, Mehta NM, Møller MH, Newth CJL, Nguyen TC, Nishisaki A, Nunnally ME, Parker MM, Paul RM, Randolph AG, Ranjit S, Romer LH, Scott HF, Tume LN, Verger JT, Williams EA, Wolf J, Wong HR, Zimmerman JJ, Kissoon N, Tissieres P. Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Feb;21(2):e52-e106. PubMed PMID: 32032273
Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP, Nadel S, Schlapbach LJ, Tasker RC, Argent AC, Brierley J, Carcillo J, Carrol ED, Carroll CL, Cheifetz IM, Choong K, Cies JJ, Cruz AT, De Luca D, Deep A, Faust SN, De Oliveira CF, Hall MW, Ishimine P, Javouhey E, Joosten KFM, Joshi P, Karam O, Kneyber MCJ, Lemson J, MacLaren G, Mehta NM, Møller MH, Newth CJL, Nguyen TC, Nishisaki A, Nunnally ME, Parker MM, Paul RM, Randolph AG, Ranjit S, Romer LH, Scott HF, Tume LN, Verger JT, Williams EA, Wolf J, Wong HR, Zimmerman JJ, Kissoon N, Tissieres P. Executive Summary: Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Feb;21(2):186-195. PubMed PMID: 32032264
Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP, Nadel S, Schlapbach LJ, Tasker RC, Argent AC, Brierley J, Carcillo J, Carrol ED, Carroll CL, Cheifetz IM, Choong K, Cies JJ, Cruz AT, De Luca D, Deep A, Faust SN, De Oliveira CF, Hall MW, Ishimine P, Javouhey E, Joosten KFM, Joshi P, Karam O, Kneyber MCJ, Lemson J, MacLaren G, Mehta NM, Møller MH, Newth CJL, Nguyen TC, Nishisaki A, Nunnally ME, Parker MM, Paul RM, Randolph AG, Ranjit S, Romer LH, Scott HF, Tume LN, Verger JT, Williams EA, Wolf J, Wong HR, Zimmerman JJ, Kissoon N, Tissieres P. Executive summary: surviving sepsis campaign international guidelines for the management of septic shock and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction in children. Intensive Care Med. 2020 Feb;46(Suppl 1):1-9. PubMed PMID: 32030528
Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP, Nadel S, Schlapbach LJ, Tasker RC, Argent AC, Brierley J, Carcillo J, Carrol ED, Carroll CL, Cheifetz IM, Choong K, Cies JJ, Cruz AT, De Luca D, Deep A, Faust SN, De Oliveira CF, Hall MW, Ishimine P, Javouhey E, Joosten KFM, Joshi P, Karam O, Kneyber MCJ, Lemson J, MacLaren G, Mehta NM, Møller MH, Newth CJL, Nguyen TC, Nishisaki A, Nunnally ME, Parker MM, Paul RM, Randolph AG, Ranjit S, Romer LH, Scott HF, Tume LN, Verger JT, Williams EA, Wolf J, Wong HR, Zimmerman JJ, Kissoon N, Tissieres P. Surviving sepsis campaign international guidelines for the management of septic shock and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction in children. Intensive Care Med. 2020 Feb;46(Suppl 1):10-67. PubMed PMID: 32030529
Scott HF, Colborn KL, Sevick CJ, Bajaj L, Kissoon N, Deakyne Davies SJ, Kempe A. Development and Validation of a Predictive Model of the Risk of Pediatric Septic Shock Using Data Known at the Time of Hospital Arrival. J Pediatr. 2020 Feb;217:145-151.e6. PubMed PMID: 31733815
Scott HF. Thiamine in Pediatric Sepsis: A Motivating Study. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2019 Sep;20(9):903-904. PubMed PMID: 31483388
Woods JM, Scott HF, Mullan PC, Badolato G, Sestokas J, Sarnacki R, Wolff M, Lane R, Dawson E, Kaplan R, Zaveri P. Using an eLearning Module to Facilitate Sepsis Knowledge Acquisition Across Multiple Institutions and Learner Disciplines. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2019 Aug 23. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31464879
Woods JM, Scott HF, Zaveri PP. Creating Consensus Educational Goals for Pediatric Sepsis via Multicenter Modified Delphi. AEM Educ Train. 2018 Oct;2(4):254-258. PubMed PMID: 30386834
Daymont C, Balamuth F, Scott HF, Bonafide CP, Brady PW, Depinet H, Alpern ER. Elevated Heart Rate and Risk of Revisit With Admission in Pediatric Emergency Patients. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2018 Jul 16. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30020247
Scott HF, Greenwald EE, Bajaj L, Deakyne Davies SJ, Brou L, Kempe A. The Sensitivity of Clinician Diagnosis of Sepsis in Tertiary and Community-Based Emergency Settings. J Pediatr. 2018 Apr;195:220-227.e1. PubMed PMID: 29395173
Scott HF, Balamuth F, Paul RM. Sepsis Bundles and Mortality Among Pediatric Patients. JAMA. 2018 Dec 4;320(21):2271. PubMed PMID: 30512094
McIntosh AM, Davidson JA, Scott HF. The authors reply. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2017 Oct;18(10):1003-1005. PubMed PMID: 28976472
Scott HF, Brou L, Deakyne SJ, Kempe A, Fairclough DL, Bajaj L. Association Between Early Lactate Levels and 30-Day Mortality in Clinically Suspected Sepsis in Children. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Mar 1;171(3):249-255. PubMed PMID: 28068437
Spruiell MD, Searns JB, Heare TC, Roberts JL, Wylie E, Pyle L, Donaldson N, Stewart JR, Heizer H, Reese J, Scott HF, Pearce K, Anderson CJ, Erickson M, Parker SK. Clinical Care Guideline for Improving Pediatric Acute Musculoskeletal Infection Outcomes. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2017 Sep 1;6(3):e86-e93. PubMed PMID: 28419275
McIntosh AM, Tong S, Deakyne SJ, Davidson JA, Scott HF. Validation of the Vasoactive-Inotropic Score in Pediatric Sepsis. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2017 Aug;18(8):750-757. PubMed PMID: 28486385
Davis AL, Carcillo JA, Aneja RK, Deymann AJ, Lin JC, Nguyen TC, Okhuysen-Cawley RS, Relvas MS, Rozenfeld RA, Skippen PW, Stojadinovic BJ, Williams EA, Yeh TS, Balamuth F, Brierley J, de Caen AR, Cheifetz IM, Choong K, Conway E Jr, Cornell T, Doctor A, Dugas MA, Feldman JD, Fitzgerald JC, Flori HR, Fortenberry JD, Graciano AL, Greenwald BM, Hall MW, Han YY, Hernan LJ, Irazuzta JE, Iselin E, van der Jagt EW, Jeffries HE, Kache S, Katyal C, Kissoon NT, Kon AA, Kutko MC, MacLaren G, Maul T, Mehta R, Odetola F, Parbuoni K, Paul R, Peters MJ, Ranjit S, Reuter-Rice KE, Schnitzler EJ, Scott HF, Torres A Jr, Weingarten-Abrams J, Weiss SL, Zimmerman JJ, Zuckerberg AL. American College of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Parameters for Hemodynamic Support of Pediatric and Neonatal Septic Shock. Crit Care Med. 2017 Jun;45(6):1061-1093. PubMed PMID: 28509730
Scott HF, Kempe A, Bajaj L. Venous vs Arterial Lactate and 30-Day Mortality in Pediatric Sepsis-Reply. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Aug 1;171(8):813-814. PubMed PMID: 28655033
Scott HF, Colborn K. Machine learning for predicting sepsis in-hospital mortality: an important start. Acad Emerg Med. 2016 May 10. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27163688
Scott HF, Brou L, Deakyne SJ, Fairclough DL, Kempe A, Bajaj L. Lactate Clearance and Normalization and Prolonged Organ Dysfunction in Pediatric Sepsis. J Pediatr. 2016 Mar;170:149-55.e1-4. PubMed PMID: 26711848
de Caen AR, Berg MD, Chameides L, Gooden CK, Hickey RW, Scott HF, Sutton RM, Tijssen JA, Topjian A, van der Jagt ÉW, Schexnayder SM, Samson RA. Part 12: Pediatric Advanced Life Support: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2015 Nov 3;132(18 Suppl 2):S526-42. PubMed PMID: 26473000
Scott HF, Deakyne SJ, Woods JM, Bajaj L. The prevalence and diagnostic utility of systemic inflammatory response syndrome vital signs in a pediatric emergency department. Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Apr;22(4):381-9. PubMed PMID: 25778743
Balamuth F, Weiss SL, Hall M, Neuman MI, Scott H, Brady PW, Paul R, Farris RW, McClead R, Centkowski S, Baumer-Mouradian S, Weiser J, Hayes K, Shah SS, Alpern ER. Identifying Pediatric Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Accuracy of Diagnosis Codes. J Pediatr. 2015 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26470685
Balamuth F, Weiss SL, Neuman MI, Scott H, Brady PW, Paul R, Farris RW, McClead R, Hayes K, Gaieski D, Hall M, Shah SS, Alpern ER. Pediatric severe sepsis in U.S. children's hospitals. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2014 Nov;15(9):798-805. PubMed PMID: 25162514
Scott HF, Donoghue AJ, Gaieski DF, Marchese RF, Mistry RD. Effectiveness of physical exam signs for early detection of critical illness in pediatric systemic inflammatory response syndrome. BMC Emerg Med. 2014 Nov 19;14:24. PubMed PMID: 25407007
Scott HF, Donoghue AJ, Gaieski DF, Marchese RF, Mistry RD. The utility of early lactate testing in undifferentiated pediatric systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Acad Emerg Med. 2012 Nov;19(11):1276-80. PubMed PMID: 23167859
Clinical Interests
Pediatric acute illness and injury
Care Philosophy
Caring for children and their families during an emergency is an incredible privilege and responsibility. I strive to be worthy of this privilege by bringing a seriousness of medical preparation and a feeling of kindness to what is often a difficult and scary time for a family. I am proud that the emergency department is always open, ready to provide life-saving care, healing and help in crises, for any child who needs it.
General Information
Medical Schools:
MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
(2004)
Graduate Schools:
MSCS, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
(2019)
Undergraduate Schools:
AB, Princeton University (NJ)
(2000)
Residency Programs:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Program, Pediatrics (2007)
Fellowships:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Program, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
(2010)