California Pacific Medical Center opens pediatric ER

California Pacific Medical Center is opening the first Emergency Department in San Francisco designed specifically to treat and meet the needs of children ages birth to 18 and their families.

"In the past children facing medical emergencies went to any of the city's EDs," says Julie Clayton, R.N., vice president of Women and Children's Services at CPMC, and Chief Administrative Officer of the Medical Center's California campus. "While they would receive good care, we knew we could do a better job of meeting all their needs, both physical and emotional, if California Pacific offered an Emergency Department designed specifically for children."

At most EDs the equipment is designed for adults so staff have to make adjustments when working with children. At the new Pediatric ED, located at the California campus (3700 California Street), all the equipment is designed with children in mind. Cribs are provided in addition to beds to accommodate the smallest patients, resuscitation equipment is color-coded by a child's weight, and blood pressure cuffs, catheters and other equipment is scaled down for children. Even the wheelchairs are a better fit.

Every child who shows up in the Peds ED will see physicians trained in both pediatrics and emergency care. Should the child need additional care they can be seen by a whole team of pediatric sub-specialists - pediatricians who have expertise in a wide range of areas from gastroenterology and cardiology to endocrinology and intensive care.

"Any parent who has had to take their child to the Emergency Room knows what a frightening experience it can be, both for them and their children," says Martin Brotman, M.D., president and CEO of California Pacific Medical Center. "We think children deserve something better than a "one size fits all" approach to emergency care, that's why we created this Pediatric ED. It is an extension of our comprehensive Women & Children's Center."

The ED has child-friendly private rooms equipped with the most advanced child-sized medical equipment. The rooms also have TVs and DVD players, as well as age-appropriate toys, puzzles and activities to help take children's minds off where they are.

Because medical emergencies can be difficult for everyone concerned, California Pacific has Child Life staff in the Pediatric ED seven days a week. These "kid helpers" have special training in child development and hospitalization and are able to prepare children for medical procedures such as blood draws, explaining what a child will experience, and helping to take some of the fear out of the situation. No other hospital in the Bay Area offers this service in the ED.

"We think you deserve the best quality care, regardless of your age or size," says Clayton. "Our new Pediatrics Emergency Department now means children in San Francisco will get the best possible care, in a setting that is much more appropriate for them, and their families."