SPRINGFIELD, IL – Four hospitals will be recognized Friday 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 critical care and emergency needs of seriously ill and injured children.

"This program recognizes hospitals that have the highest level of specialized critical care and emergency care services to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director. "Providing appropriate care for critically ill and injured children requires a dedicated pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric specialists and services, as well as specialized training, equipment and supplies."

Leslee Stein-Spencer, chief of the Department's Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety, will present each hospital with a certificate of recognition as a Pediatric Critical Care Center (PCCC) during a ceremony at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria and during another ceremony at the Illinois Hospital Association in Naperville.

The hospitals to be recognized are Central DuPage Hospital, Edward Hospital and Health Services, Loyola University Health System and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

The Pediatric Critical Care Center designation is part of the Department's facility recognition program. Hospitals can voluntarily apply for one of three levels of recognition. Facilities that have a pediatric intensive care unit and can provide specialty inpatient services for the pediatric patient can seek recognition as a Pediatric Critical Care Center (PCCC). Hospitals that can provide comprehensive emergency services and meet pediatric emergency care requirements are recognized as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP). The Standby Emergency Department for Pediatrics (SEDP) recognition is for hospitals that can provide stabilization measures and that have transfer agreements in place when more definitive care is needed. Centers applying for the PCCC level already must have attained EDAP status.

With these new recognitions, the state now has four PCCC hospitals, 75 EDAP hospitals and 13 SEDP hospitals to provide care to Illinois children.

Hospitals seeking one of these voluntary designations must receive a site visit by EMSC program staff who verify that the pediatric and emergency departments are capable of meeting the following pediatric critical care standards:

• A pediatric intensive care unit;
• Professionals specially trained in 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 interfacility transport services for critically ill and injured children, and protocols to assist in the transfer process; and
• Ability to conduct pediatric critical care and emergency care quality improvement activities.

The Illinois EMSC program, a collaborative effort of the Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Medical Center, was established in 1994 to enhance emergency medical care for children.

(Editor's note: Following is a list of hospitals to be recognized.)

ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN Pediatric Critical Care Center (PCCC) Facility Recognition

Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield Road
Winfield, IL 60190

Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
530 N.E. Glen Oak Ave.
Peoria, IL 61637

Edward Hospital and Health Services
801 S. Washington St.
Naperville, IL 60540

Loyola University Health System
2160 S. First Ave.
Maywood, IL 60153