Kimball Cuts Ribbon on New Pediatric Emergency Services Program

The Kimball Medical Center's Emergency Department becomes more kid-friendly. The Lakewood hospital cut the ribbon on its new Pediatric Emergency Services Program Thursday.

Emergency Department Chairman Dr. Bill Dalsey says the program expands access to Neonatologist Pedestrians who are available 24/7 in the hospital to provide emergency consults or to takeover care if necessary.

"So that provides attending level pediatric care for patients a Kimball Medical Center 24/7 which is a tremendous improvement, better than exist at many children's hospitals."

Dr. Dalsey says the program has also redesigned areas of its emergency department to appeal to children and families. "There's a pediatric family waiting area that's peds friendly with areas of toys and books and things to help families stay occupied while the sick patient may be taken care of. The pediatric rooms themselves are designed to be less threatening and hostile and not so stark as most emergency department hospital rooms. We have some special t.v.'s setup that allow them to look at dvds and movies and special channels for children and other things to help distract them while their care is ongoing.

He says the program works in collaboration with the Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center which also provides them access to their specialty pediatric services.