Press Release

February 27, 2007

 

State recognizes hospital for pediatric and emergency care services

Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System now one of eight Pediatric Critical Care Centers in Illinois

ROCKFORD, Ill. – At a special ceremony today, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recognized Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System as the newest Pediatric Critical Care Center in Illinois. IDPH Office of Preparedness and Response Medical Director Dr. Sam 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 Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System as the state’s eighth Pediatric Critical Care Center,” said Dr. Gaines. “Rockford Health System 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.

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.

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.

“Serving as the pediatric trauma center for the city of Rockford and the surrounding region we serve, we are honored with this latest recognition.  We continue to work hard to improve the care we give to children from the emergency department, pediatric intensive care unit, and pediatric unit,” said Doreen Timm, Pediatrics / PICU Clinical Nurse Specialist.  “The PCCC designation gives us a framework to continue to improve our quality efforts.  We are proud of the care we give to the children in our region.”

With the recognition of Children’s Medical Center at Rockford Health System, there are now eight 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 Memorial Hospital, Chicago; Edward Hospital, Naperville; Loyola University Health System, Maywood; 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
  • Professionals specially trained in pediatric intensive and emergency care
  • Adequate staffing and provisions for 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 inter-facility transport services for critically ill and injured children, as well as protocols to assist in the transfer process
  • Conduction of pediatric critical care and emergency care quality improvement activities.
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.




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Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
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