Expanding Pediatric Emergency Care for Our Community
More children than ever are coming to the Pediatric Emergency Department for urgent care. To keep pace with this growing need — and to ensure every child receives timely, specialized treatment — we are planning a major expansion and modernization of pediatric emergency services.
Today, the Pediatric Emergency Department cares for approximately 25,000 children each year, operating in a limited 4,200‑square‑foot space with just nine exam rooms and no dedicated critical care area. The high demand of emergency cases made expansion essential for the safety, comfort and care of our youngest patients.
Meeting the Needs of Children and Families
The planned expansion will significantly enhance pediatric emergency care by:
- Expanding the Pediatric Emergency Department to four times its current size
- Adding dedicated pediatric trauma services for critically ill and injured children
- Creating specialized critical care and ambulance bays
- Expanding telemedicine services to support children at community hospitals
- Training the next generation of pediatric emergency specialists through a new fellowship program
- Attracting and retaining expert physicians and clinicians in pediatric emergency medicine, critical care and anesthesiology
These improvements will strengthen access to high‑quality emergency care close to home, while supporting collaboration and advanced medical training across the region.
A Larger, More Advanced Pediatric Emergency Department
Based on detailed planning and feasibility studies, the proposed expansion will increase the Pediatric Emergency Department to more than 17,000 square feet — that's quadruple the space of our current footprint.
The expanded facility will include:
- 20 patient exam rooms
- Two dedicated critical care bays
- Improved treatment areas designed for faster care and better patient flow
- Capacity to serve up to 30,000 pediatric emergency visits each year
Along with the physical expansion, the pediatric emergency care team will grow to include more physicians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants — ensuring children receive expert care when they need it most.
Caring for Children Today and Tomorrow
This transformational project will provide children and families with a modern, welcoming emergency care environment designed specifically for pediatric needs.
By expanding capacity and specialized services, we are strengthening emergency care for our community — today and for generations to come.
