Emergency Department FAQ
When are visiting hours?
As part of the ED family-centered care practice, two family members are allowed by the child's bedside at all times. Although they are allowed to be present during all of the child's care, there may be a situation when the staff recommends the family leave the room so they do not feel uncomfortable.
Is there a defined schedule or routine?
Patients are first seen by the triage nurse to determine the reason for the visit and to assess immediate needs. The child is then registered and placed in the ED based on how sick he or she is (note: this is not necessarily the order in which the child is registered). Physicians and nurses begin comprehensive assessments, and based on those assessments, a treatment plan is developed and implementation begins.
Which care teams and physicians work in the Children's ED?
Physician staff includes attending physicians, resident physicians, interns and students. Physicians from all specialties are available for consultation and help care for patients, as appropriate. Nursing, respiratory care, pharmacy, interpreters, physical therapists, social workers, members of the IV team and chaplains all provide services in the ED, as they are needed and available.
Can families stay the night on the unit or nearby?
Families can wait with the patient or in the waiting room.
How are patients prepared for discharge?
The patient and their family are prepared for discharge based on the child's diagnosis and treatment plan. Once a decision is made that the child will leave the hospital, the family is taught what care they will need at home. They are also taught about medications, wound care, what the expected course of the child's problem will be, when to return to the ED or when to see their regular physician or specialist. If the child is going to be admitted to the hospital, families are given information about what room the child will be in and who will be caring for them. The staff is always happy to answer any questions regarding the child's care needs.
What types of patients are seen in the ED?
The ED receives patients who are referred from physicians and hospitals across the state, based on the level of the child's illness. The ED has the largest group of pediatric specialists in the state, and is the only pediatric ED associated with a Level One Trauma Center. The department also has their own medical flight team, MediFlight, whose mission is to bring the most critical pediatric patients to the ED at Children's Hospital.