State designates hospital for pediatric and emergency care services

 Advocate Christ Medical Center now one of only ten Pediatric Critical Care Centers in Illinois

OAK LAWN, Ill. – At a special ceremony today, Sam Gaines, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Office of Preparedness and Response Medical Director, designated Advocate Christ Medical Center as the newest Pediatric Critical Care Center in Illinois. Dr. Gaines, 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.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Advocate Christ Medical Center as the state’s tenth Pediatric Critical Care Center,” said Dr. Gaines. “ Christ Medical Center has made a commitment to a dedicated pediatric intensive care unit with an array of pediatric specialists and services, specialized trained staff and special pediatric equipment and supplies.”  

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. 

The second level of recognition is Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP) and applies to hospitals that provide comprehensive emergency services and meet specific pediatric emergency care requirements. There are 81 hospitals in Illinois with the EDAP designation.

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. There are 19 hospitals in Illinois with the SEDP designation.

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. With the addition of Advocate Christ Medical Center there are 110 hospitals in Illinois participating in the Pediatric Facility Recognition program.

“As one of the state’s busiest Level I trauma centers and the home of Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital, the only pediatric medical institution serving the South and Southwest metropolitan Chicago area, we have a responsibility to provide the highest level of care to children who depend on us,” said Kenneth W. Lukhard, President, Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. “This designation recognizes our commitment to clinical excellence as well as the depth and breadth of critical care services that we offer.”

With the recognition of Christ Medical Center, there are now ten PCCC hospitals to provide care to Illinois children. Other hospitals in Illinois that have attained this level include Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge; Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield; Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria; Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System, Rockford; Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago; Edward Hospital, Naperville; Loyola University Health System, Maywood; St. John’s Hospital, Springfield and University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago.

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

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.