State recognizes hospital for pediatric and
emergency care services
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital now one of eight
Pediatric Critical Care Centers in Illinois
PARK RIDGE, Ill. – At a special ceremony held this morning, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recognized Advocate Lutheran General Hospital as the newest Pediatric Critical Care Center in Illinois. IDPH Chief of Staff Quin Golden along with the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program recognized the hospital for providing the necessary resources and capabilities to address the critical care and emergency needs of seriously ill and injured children.
“To provide appropriate care for critically ill and injured children requires a dedicated pediatric intensive care unit, an array of pediatric specialist and services, as well as specialized training, equipment and supplies. With the addition of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, we are fortunate enough to now have eight such facilities in the state,” said Golden. “Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and its personnel are very dedicated and committed to children and meet all the requirements of a Pediatric Critical Care Center.”
Pediatric Critical Care Center (PCCC) is the top level of recognition in the IDPH Pediatric Facility Recognition program and reflects a hospital that has the highest level of specialized pediatric critical care and emergency care services to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients.
Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP) recognition applies for hospitals that provide comprehensive emergency services and meet specific pediatric emergency care requirements.
Standby Emergency Department for Pediatrics (SEDP) is the base level of recognition for smaller hospitals that can provide stabilization measures and have transfer agreements in place when more definitive pediatric care in needed.
Hospitals can voluntarily choose to participate in the Pediatric Facility Recognition program with the goal of improving and enhancing the care of children in hospitals and emergency departments.
“As the only children’s hospital in the Northwest Metropolitan Chicago area, we have a responsibility to provide the highest level of services to children who depend on us,” said Bruce C. Campbell, President, Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.
With the recognition of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, there are now eight PCCC hospitals to provide care to Illinois children. Other hospitals in Illinois that have attained this level include Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield; Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria; Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago; Edward Hospital, Naperville; Loyola University Health System, Maywood; University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago; and a ceremony is pending to recognize Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System, Rockford.
Emergency Medical Services for Children program staff visit hospitals seeking Pediatric Facility Recognition to verify the pediatric department and emergency department are capable of meeting specific pediatric critical care standards including:
- A pediatric intensive care unit
- Professionals specially trained in pediatric intensive and emergency care
- Adequate staffing and provisions for pediatric intensive and emergency care
- Adequate staffing and provisions for pediatric consultation and backup.
- Availability of essential pediatric equipment, supplies and medication
- Protocols for the treatment of critically ill and injured children
- Access to specialized pediatric inter-facility transport services for critically ill and injured children, as well as protocols to assist in the transfer process
- Conduction of pediatric critical care and emergency care quality improvement activities.
Illinois EMSC, a collaborative effort of the Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Medical Center, was established in 1994 to enhance emergency and critical care for children within our state.
