New Pediatric ER at Shands will enhance emergency care for children

Children are not small adults. This is never more evident than when an accident or urgent medical problem arises and parents need fast access to specialized care designed to meet their child's needs. On July 1, the new Pediatric Emergency Room at Shands Hospital for Children at the University of Florida will open, becoming north central Florida's first emergency room specifically geared toward kids. Located at Shands at the University of Florida, the Pediatric ER will have a separate entrance with free valet parking for adults transporting children, and an adjacent parking garage for visitors. Calming, child-friendly décor with a nautical theme enhances the check-in and waiting areas, with porthole windows, saltwater aquariums and floors made to look like waves adding to the atmosphere. More important, families will have access to an expanded team of UF pediatric emergency medicine physicians and Shands pediatric emergency-trained nurses, additional treatment space and the latest medical technology. "This new Pediatric ER benefits our patients and our UF&Shands teams," said Jennifer Light, M.D., UF College of Medicine clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine and Pediatric ER medical director. "We've created an environment just for families, staffed by people committed to the care of children. This generates great positive energy and the opportunity for us to improve services and the whole experience for young patients and their families." The Pediatric ER will be staffed by seven UF board-certified or board-eligible pediatric emergency medicine physicians and 22 Shands pediatric-trained emergency medicine registered nurses. The team will be able to treat up to 24,000 pediatric emergency patients a year.