Preparing for Your Visit

Arriving at the Emergency Department

You will be greeted by our front desk staff. You will need to provide your child’s name, address, health insurance and pediatrician’s name at this time. The Pediatric Emergency Department treats all patients, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Should you require financial assistance, our financial counselors can assist you.

Triage

Immediately after registering you will be seen by a triage nurse who will assess your child’s medical care needs. If your child has a life-threatening or serious illness or injury, he or she will be seen immediately by one of our board certified pediatricians. After registration and triage, you will be directed to a dedicated waiting room for children and families. Two family members may stay with the child in the treatment room; other family members or friends may stay in the waiting area. Young children should not be left unattended in the waiting area.

Treatment

As quickly as possible, you and your child will be brought to an exam room where a team of pediatricians and nurses specially trained in pediatric emergency care will exam your child. Depending on your emergency, your treatment may be simple and quick, or it may take a little longer or require that your child be seen by another specialist. If your child needs blood tests, X-rays or other tests, it may take an hour or more to get the results. We will keep you informed of your child’s treatment at all times and ensure that you and your child are comfortable while you wait for results. 

"Ouchless ER"

To help take the anxiety surrounding needles away, our Pediatric Emergency Department has developed its “Ouchless ER” to alleviate the pain of an unplanned trip to the hospital.  The goal of our “Ouchless ER” is to make common procedures less scary with the help of non-invasive, pain-relief methods. Learn more about our “Ouchless ER.”

Staying overnight

In some cases, the pediatric physician treating your child may decide that your child needs overnight care. Your child will be admitted to our extended care area, designed for children who need a little more time in the hospital. Here, your child will continue to be cared for by our team of talented physicians, nurses and staff. Learn more.