Young Patients Get State-Of-The-Art "TLC" In Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's New Pediatric Emergenc...( LOS ANGELES (February 24 1999) -- As...),Health

LOS ANGELES (February 24, 1999) -- As if a serious cut or broken bone isn't scary enough for a child, a trip to the typical emergency room can be even more frightening. Blood-soaked accident victims whiz by on gurneys. Grieving families weep and wail. The constant cry of the intercom floods the corridors. Fortunately for youngsters in Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has taken much of the trauma out of a trip to the emergency room.

A major renovation effort and a progressive approach to pediatric emergency care has resulted in some special services and surroundings for the nearly 9,000 children treated in the department each year. The difference is apparent as soon as you enter the pediatric waiting room, where all but the most critically ill or injured youngsters (and their families) wait their turns for care. The room, enlivened by storybook murals, is filled with child-friendly furnishings. Young patients can join the characters of "Alice in Wonderland" for "tea" at a hand-painted table and chairs. A television fitted in a "castle tower" provides distraction as visitors settle into heart-backed chairs and other comfortable seating. There are no disturbing overhead "pages" or announcements, thanks to a special cellular telephone system for physicians.

"We tried to develop an environment that would insulate children from the common experiences they might encounter in emergency centers that treat both children and adults," explained Joel Geiderman, M.D., FACEP, co-chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. His philosophy of "more privacy, more comfort, more dignity" for patients was the over-riding principle in the design of the waiting room, though he emphasized, "We try keep 'waiting' to a minimum."

That philosophy also carries over to the pediatric treatment area, which is situated opposite the emergency department's acute care center in the "quiet" side of the facility. There are specially designed treatment rooms for children as we
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Contact: Sandra Van
Sandy@VanCommunications.com
1-800-396-1002
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
24-Feb-1999