October 5, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Four hospitals in central Illinois will be recognized Tuesday (Oct. 9) by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program for providing the necessary resources and capabilities to address the emergency needs of critically ill and injured children.

"This program recognizes those hospitals that have taken the steps to enhance their emergency departments to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director. "To effectively provide emergency care for children requires special training, equipment and supplies that often are not available in emergency settings originally developed for only adult patients."

Leslee Stein-Spencer, chief of the Department's Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety, will present Blessing Hospital, Quincy; Memorial Medical Center, Springfield; Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana; and St. John's Hospital, Springfield each with a certificate of recognition as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP) during an 11 a.m. ceremony Tuesday (Oct. 9) at the Department's offices, 525 W. Jefferson St., Springfield.

Hospitals can apply for one of two levels of voluntary recognition. Facilities that provide comprehensive emergency services can seek recognition as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP). Another possible designation, Standby Emergency Department for Pediatrics (SEDP), is for hospitals that provide stabilization measures and have in place transfer guidelines for when more definitive care is needed.

With these new recognitions by the Department, there are now 99 EDAP hospitals and 13 SEDP hospitals. Included in this number are two Iowa hospitals that care for many Illinois children and have met Illinois EMSC criteria.

Hospitals seeking this voluntary designation receive a site visit by the EMSC program staff who verify that the emergency department is capable of meeting pediatric emergency care standards, including the following:

• Professionals specially trained in pediatric emergency care;
• Adequate staffing and provisions for pediatric consultation and backup to support pediatric emergency care services;
• Availability of essential pediatric equipment, supplies and medication;
• Treatment protocols for the management of abused and of critically ill and injured children;
• Implementation of protocols for the transfer of critically ill and injured children to a specialized care center; and
• Incorporation of pediatrics into emergency services quality improvement activities.

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 that the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.