Emergency Medicine Has a Kid-Friendly Attitude at California Hospital

Although most of these children can be adequately cared for in a "normal" emergency department, pediatric emergency departments affiliated with children's hospitals have some unique advantages above and beyond the child-friendly atmosphere.

"Emergency physicians are trained to take care of children and do an excellent job," said Dannenberg. "But their resources are often limited specifically when it comes to obtaining specialty treatment from, for example, trauma surgeons or pediatric neurosurgeons." In contrast, Packard Children's Hospital, as a tertiary care facility with all pediatric specialties, routinely accepts cases from local community hospitals that require a higher level of care, such as severe pediatric traumas and those requiring pediatric intensive care.

The pediatric emergency department is a testament to the commitment of both Packard Children's Hospital and the community to provide the very best care to sick and frightened children. More than 50 donors together contributed $11 million to the project, which included a match by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The adult and children's hospitals also contributed financially to the construction of the facility. Individual donors paid for the whimsical river in the floor, the iMac computers and other specialized equipment and child-friendly improvements in each room. Donors also endowed Dannenberg's position and support for other pediatric emergency department staff.

"We have listened to the community and now have a facility specifically built for and dedicated to children," said Dannenberg. "Most people who have seen the space say 'Wow. The kids will never want to go home.'"

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Ranked as one of the nation's top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 264-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford School of Medicine, Packard Children's Hospital offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health-care programs and services from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit http://www.lpch.org.

About Stanford Hospital

Stanford Hospital & Clinics is a university-owned, non-profit corporation known for advanced patient care. The 613-bed hospital in Northern California consistently ranks among the top in the nation in surveys by consumers and health professionals. Stanford Hospital & Clinics, in cooperation with the Stanford University Medical School, has pioneered medical advances that save lives and protect against disease. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.stanfordhospital.com.

CONTACT: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Robert Dicks, 650-497-8364 rdicks@lpch.org Todd Kleinheinz, 650-725-9666 tkleinheinz@lpch.org KEYWORD: CALIFORNIAINDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTSOURCE: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

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