Pediatric Emergency Care

We treat a wide range of pediatric emergencies, from seasonal illnesses to serious injuries. Some of the most common conditions we see include:

• Respiratory concerns, including coughs, asthma side effects or pneumonia
• Fevers
• Colds and flu
• Orthopedic injuries, such as broken bones or fractures
• Infections, such as febrile illness (fever), skin infections or urinary tract infections
• Seizures
• Sepsis
• Near-drowning injuries
• Complications from cancer
• Gastrointestinal conditions, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Every child who comes into one of our emergency rooms receives a physical exam from a nurse to determine the extent of the illness or injury. Depending on your child’s condition, the emergency room physician may also request blood work, other lab testing or imaging tests, such as an X-ray, to determine a diagnosis.

At Baptist Health, our pediatric emergency rooms have 24/7 access to lab testing and radiology services, so we can get results quickly and move forward with any treatment as soon as possible.

Whether your child needs medication or surgery, we have access to an entire team of pediatric specialists who can provide the treatment your child needs.

In some cases, children can be treated within the emergency room by our pediatric emergency physicians and nurses. If your child needs medicine, wound treatment or a cast for a broken bone, all of these treatments can be done right within the emergency department.

If your child needs more extensive treatment, such as surgery or consultation with a specialist, we will work closely with those specialists to ensure your child gets treatment as quickly as possible. Your child may need to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment, or we will provide a referral for treatment at a later date if your child is able to go home.

When you first arrive at one of our Pediatric Emergency Rooms, a nurse will immediately assess your child’s condition. If your child is severely ill, our team of pediatric emergency specialists will immediately start treatment.

If your child’s condition is less severe, we will bring your child and you into a treatment room where your child will be seen by a bedside nurse. An emergency pediatric physician will examine your child and determine if any other tests are needed. The physician will also work closely with you and the other pediatric emergency specialists to come up with a treatment plan.

If your child needs to be admitted to the hospital, we will work with hospital pediatricians to coordinate care as quickly as possible.

If your child is able to safely return home, you will be given instructions for treatment and follow-up care before you leave the hospital.

The best time to come to the Emergency Room is when you’re concerned about your child’s well-being. Regardless of whether your child has a minor injury or a serious illness, we will take care of your child. While the sickest patients will be seen first, every child who comes in for care will be treated with the same compassion and expertise.

Baptist Health Pediatric Emergency Rooms are staffed by nurses and physicians who specialize in treating children. These teams are focused solely on pediatric emergency conditions and understand the unique challenges of treating children. Many of our specialists are board-certified or trained in pediatric emergency medicine or have more than 10 years of experience in pediatric emergency rooms.