9/5/2018
Children’s Hospital is the first in the state to achieve this recognition
Photo, left to right: Lindsay Dowd, BSN, RN-assistant nurse manager; Elizabeth Sibilia, BSN, RN-nurse manager; Derick Wenning, M.D.-medical director; Amanda Felder, BSN, RN-Pediatric Trauma Program manager; Amanda Harvel, BSN, RN-assistant nurse manager.
The Children’s Emergency Center at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital recently was recognized by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) as meeting the criteria for being “Pediatric Ready.” It is the first (and currently the only) pediatric emergency department in the state to achieve this recognition.
DHEC’s Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS-C) developed the Pediatric Ready recognition program to ensure that every child in South Carolina gets the best care, in every emergency department, every time.
On average, one out of every four emergency visits is a pediatric patient. The Children’s Emergency Center met rigorous requirements in training, equipment, performance improvement and staff oversight requirements to demonstrate its commitment to provide the highest level of pediatric emergency care. It is a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center and has more than 30,000 visits each year.
“I am proud of the collaborative effort put forth by so many individuals in order to achieve this recognition from DHEC,” said Nurse Manager Elizabeth Sibilia. “Our Pediatric Emergency Department is a phenomenal team of professionals who work closely to take excellent care of more than 30,000 kids each year. Our nurses are nationally board certified in pediatric medicine and go through specific training to prepare for any situation or illness.”
DHEC EMS-C’s goal is to continuously improve and ensure all emergency departments have the equipment and training to care for ill and injured children to meet national standards. Emergency departments are the point of care for many who enter health care systems. All emergency departments must be prepared to care for pediatric patients and get them to definitive care as appropriate.
About Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital
Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, South Carolina’s first children's hospital, is celebrating its 35th birthday in 2018. Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital has more than 150,000 children’s visits each year and cares for children from all 46 counties in South Carolina. It offers more than 30 subspecialties to meet the unique health care needs of children and has central South Carolina's only Children’s Emergency Center. With more than 350 professionals who work exclusively with children, Palmetto Health Children's Hospital has a team of highly skilled and trained experts unmatched by any hospital in the Midlands. Palmetto Health Children's Hospital is the place to go for children's medical care, because the best care matters. For more information about Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, visit PalmettoHealthChildrens.org or call 803-296-KIDS (5437).