Emergency Pediatric Care in 2026: How 2022’s Unprecedented Crowding Became the New Normal

In a stark assessment, Jonathan Kohler and Mary King argue that the unprecedented pediatric patient crowding seen in 2022 has become a routine reality by 2026. What was once a crisis is now a permanent state for emergency departments across the country, with no relief in sight. The authors contend that the surge in pediatric patients—driven by waves of respiratory viruses, mental health emergencies, and deferred care—has not subsided but rather become baked into the system. This normalization of crisis conditions means longer wait times, overstretched staff, and compromised care for children. The piece highlights how the lack of systemic changes, such as increased pediatric bed capacity and workforce support, has allowed a temporary surge to calcify into a chronic problem. The authors warn that without urgent investment and policy shifts, the current state of emergency pediatric care will continue to deteriorate, leaving the youngest patients most vulnerable. As we look ahead, the question remains: will 2026 be remembered as the year we accepted crisis as the baseline, or the year we finally acted?