EEH’s kid-friendly ERs are safe and ready to help

It’s every parent’s nightmare: a child is sick or injured and a hospital visit may be in order.

While no parent wants to take their child to the hospital — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic — emergencies can’t wait.

Any delay in seeking emergency treatment can put a child at risk for more dangerous health consequences. Since it’s rare for children to become seriously ill with no warning, severe symptoms should never be taken lightly, especially since certain symptoms can worsen more quickly in children than adults.

When to go to the ER

Anything that would have prompted a visit to the ER in the past should warrant a visit now. A child may need emergency care when he/she is having trouble breathing, badly injured, unresponsive or unconscious. When it’s a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

Also, behavioral health emergencies in children are rising during the pandemic, so be on the lookout for warning signs, and seek help immediately.

When questions arise, a first point of contact is usually the child’s primary care doctor. Even if it’s after hours, the doctor on-call can help parents decide whether a trip to the ER is needed.

Parents shouldn’t let worries about COVID-19 exposure cloud their thinking if they believe their child needs medical care fast. In that case, the emergency room is the safest option. Plus, hospitals across the country have implemented strict safety practices to prevent the spread of the virus.

Why it’s safe to go to the ER

Edward-Elmhurst Health’s three fully-equipped Emergency Departments (EDs) — in Naperville, Elmhurst and Plainfield — provide specialized emergency care for children. There are numerous measures in place to keep everyone safe:

• Visitor screening and restrictions. Before entering our EDs, all staff, patients and visitors are screened for a temperature greater than 100 degrees and masked. While visitors are being restricted at all our sites, both parents may accompany children under 17.
• Strict cleaning and disinfecting. Edward-Elmhurst Health has employed extra staff who are specifically assigned to clean and sanitize our EDs on a frequent basis.
• Designated COVID-19 care areas. Edward-Elmhurst Health has implemented multiple safety measures to minimize risk of COVID-19 cross-contamination, including placing suspected and known COVID-19 patients in designated areas in the ED, with critically ill patients placed in negative-pressure isolation rooms that have a separate airflow system and dedicated care teams.
• Universal masking. All visitors must wear a mask at all times. Edward-Elmhurst Health ED staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical masks, eyewear, gowns, gloves, etc., when interacting with patients.
• COVID-19 patient testing prior to procedures. COVID-19 testing is available at nine convenient Edward-Elmhurst Health outpatient lab locations for patients with a physician’s order. In the ED, COVID-19 testing is taking place for patients with COVID-19 symptoms or prior to certain procedures.
• Advanced triage system to limit exposure. Patient registration is being done remotely and the ED waiting areas are monitored by triage team leaders who help ensure social distancing.

Before and during COVID-19, Edward Hospital in Naperville and Elmhurst Hospital have earned national recognition in patient safety and quality. Open around-the-clock, their kid-friendly Emergency Departments provide streamlined care focused on the unique needs of children.

Edward-Elmhurst Health EDs are staffed by emergency medicine doctors and nurses trained in pediatric and trauma care and pediatric advanced life support. Our EDs have kid-friendly waiting areas and family-friendly rooms that are designed to put children at ease, along with child-sized equipment designed for their sizes, shapes and needs. Child life specialists are also available to help younger patients relax and prepare for treatment.

Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Departments are recognized as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics. Edward Hospital is one of only 10 Pediatric Critical Care Centers in Illinois offering a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for children who need critical care, and pediatric-trained transport teams are available at Elmhurst Hospital ED and Plainfield ED.

For information about our pediatric emergency care, visit www.EEHealth.org/services/emergency/pediatric.

For more information about coronavirus, visit www.EEHealth.org/coronavirus.