USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital opens pediatric health facility

Olivia Wilson
·2 min read

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — New services are available for children experiencing medical emergencies.

According to a press release, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital opened a new Pediatric Emergency Center on Monday.

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“Our new Pediatric Emergency Center will transform care delivery for our children within this community and beyond,” said Deborah Browning, M.S.N., RN, CENP, chief executive officer of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “With specially trained pediatric emergency nurses, pediatric emergency medicine physicians, respiratory therapists and child life specialists, we are able to offer care that uniquely meets the needs of the children – from newborns to age 18.”

Photo of a white hospital building. The front side has windows and it wraps around in an L shape. On the front of the building is a vertical sign that reads EMERGENCY in big, red letters. In the foreground of the photo there is a sign that reads "USA Health Pediatric Emergency"
USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital opened the doors to a new Pediatric Emergency Center on Monday. (Courtesy: USA Health)

The new emergency center is now double the size of the former emergency department. According to the release, the center has more than 30 treatment areas including 25 private rooms.

Officials say the expansion was much needed. Per USA Health’s website, officials have “recorded about 40,000 patient visits every year to the pediatric emergency department.”

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“The center provides more space for parents and caregivers to be with their children and offers sensory strategies to help calm and support patients during their emergency visit,” the press release notes.

According to the release, the center will be open 24 hours daily. It is the only emergency department in Alabama that is certified to have 100% pediatric readiness, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“This is transformative,” said Edward Panacek, M.D., M.P.H., professor and chair of the department of emergency medicine. “The state-of-the-art capabilities of this new Pediatric Emergency Center, staffed by the only pediatric emergency specialists in the region, bring truly world-class pediatric care to Mobile.”

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