May 27, 2009

State Public Health Department Recognizes Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for Excellence in Pediatric Care

Hospital honored with Community Service Award  

PEORIA, Ill. – Dr. Sam Gaines, Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services Medical Director, presented Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center with a special pediatric care award today for the hospital’s dedication to childhood care. The Ron W. Lee, M.D. –Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards are given annually by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program to recognize those dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood injury prevention initiatives. Individuals or organizations can be nominated in one of three award categories - Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community Service.

“I’m honored to present the Ron W. Lee Excellence in Pediatric Care Community Service award to an organization that is committed to children,” said Dr. Gaines. “The review panel for the award chose Children’s Hospital after receiving numerous letters advocating on behalf of the hospital. One letter called Children’s Hospital a “regional treasure of central Illinois,” and another said “Children’s Hospital is a premiere facility for pediatric healthcare and excels in addressing not only the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual needs of its patients.”

“The entire team at Children’s Hospital shares this honor for the positive impact we make on the health and well-being of children and families in central Illinois.  We are dedicated to providing integrated, comprehensive pediatric healthcare to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of everyone we serve,” said Paul Kramer, Children’s Hospital of Illinois President.

This year’s recipients of the Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards are:

• Community Service – Children’s Hospital of Illinois, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria
• Community Service - Zaida Nava, Pediatric R.N. – West Town Neighborhood Health Center
• Lifetime Achievement – Charles Nozicka, D.O., F.A.A.P., F.A.A.E.M – Condell Medical Center
• Lifetime Achievement - Earl J. Field – Schiller Park
• Clinical Excellence - Leslie Wilkans, R.N., B.S.N. – Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

“It is a great honor for Children’s Hospital of Illinois to receive this prestigious award from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children program in recognition of the service we provide to children and adolescents in central Illinois.  Children’s Hospital is dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare to infants, children and teens,” said Dr. Kay Saving, Children’s Hospital of Illinois Medical Director.

Children’s Hospital of Illinois programs receiving recognition include:

• Be A Buckle Buddy! Hotline – this program was developed in 2004 by Children’s Hospital of Illinois to educate drivers on Illinois child restraint laws and to reduce the number of children riding unbuckled in vehicles.
• Statewide Special Needs Resource Center – this program provides car seats for special needs children and for children and families in need.
• Mobile Safety Van – The mobile safety van brings injury prevention programs such as bicycle safety and child passenger safety to neighborhoods and communities.
• Parent Advice On-line – This is an online program that offers education to parents via the hospital Web site. Parent Advice On-Line covers many basic topics and is designed to assist parents in determining if medical care is needed when their child feels sick.

The Illinois EMSC program is a collaborative effort of the Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Medical Center. It was established in 1994 to ensure the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.