Pediatric Medically Necessary, Time-Sensitive Scoring Tool Facilitates Dynamic and Flexible Decision-Making and Triage for Procedures

Abstract

We would like to thank Dr González Villarreal and colleagues ¹ Slidell M.B. Kandel J.J. Prachand V. et al. Pediatric modification of the medically necessary, time-sensitive scoring system for operating room procedure prioritization during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Coll Surg [Internet]. 2020; 231 : 205-215 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar for their thoughtful response. In their retrospective analysis, they concluded that the Pediatric Medically Necessary, Time-Sensitive (pMeNTS) tool ¹ Slidell M.B. Kandel J.J. Prachand V. et al. Pediatric modification of the medically necessary, time-sensitive scoring system for operating room procedure prioritization during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Coll Surg [Internet]. 2020; 231 : 205-215 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar did not “encompass substantial utility in our setting, possibly due to the fact that reasons other than procedure, disease and patient-related factors influenced the deferral of surgery for most patients.” It appears that Dr González Villarreal and associates ¹ Slidell M.B. Kandel J.J. Prachand V. et al. Pediatric modification of the medically necessary, time-sensitive scoring system for operating room procedure prioritization during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Coll Surg [Internet]. 2020; 231 : 205-215 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar applied the pMeNTS tool in a novel manner beyond its original intent, and that may explain their findings.