Pediatric Emergency Department Process
Most visitors to the Pediatric Emergency Department aren’t expecting to be there that day. When a child has an emergency, it can be disorienting and emotional for the parents or responsible adults. Don’t worry. We’ve got you.
The calm and caring staff at the Pediatric Emergency Department at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has a formula for ensuring that patients who come in for treatment receive appropriate care.
To smooth the path to effective treatment, we use a four-step process: triage, examination, registration, and admission or discharge.
Step 1: Triage
A specially trained pediatric triage nurse will greet the child and their parent or accompanying adult when they first come to the Emergency Department to identify the child’s problem and determine how urgent it is. This nurse will want to know as much about the problem as possible and will ask a lot of questions.
After talking with the nurse, you will be escorted to a treatment area if one is available. Patients are seen in order of severity, not based on order of arrival. We want to ensure that the most acutely ill children are cared for as quickly as possible.
Step 2: Examination
A doctor, physician assistant, and a nurse will thoroughly examine the child and order and perform tests to help treat the child’s problem.
Step 3: Registration
A registration clerk will come see you to complete the registration process. Proof of identification and insurance information will be requested.
Step 4: Admission or Discharge
The doctor will make a decision to admit the child to the hospital or send them home after treatment in the Emergency Department.
If a decision is made to admit, you may need to wait for a bed to become available to treat the child’s specific problem.
If the doctor decides to discharge the child, you will receive verbal and written instructions regarding the final diagnosis given, the medications prescribed, and the appropriate follow-up required.
