The most recent clinical space to be finished as part of our campus transformation is the new, expanded Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. The new space features fast track and rapid assessment rooms, as well as dedicated trauma bays and a private behavioral health pod for kids and teens who come to the hospital in the midst of a mental health crisis.
Children's Hospital has the largest pediatric Emergency Department in Louisiana, caring for more than 50,000 pediatric patients per year. The expanded ED has doubled in size from 14,000 square feet to over 32,000 square feet. The department, which once spanned over two floors, is now housed on one floor aiding in better patient flow and overall experience for patients and families. With our expansion from 29 to 46 emergency rooms, including six dedicated to specialized behavioral health needs and two dedicated trauma bays, the new ED expands capacity and capabilities to serve even more children and families across the region. A Recognized Pediatric Level II Trauma Program by the State of Louisiana, the new ED includes two dedicated trauma bays specially designed to care for children involved in motor vehicle accidents, violence, abuse, or other serious trauma events, backed by 24/7 coverage of operating room, anesthesia, and pediatric intensive care teams at the hospital.
A special emphasis was placed on children and adolescents who come to the Emergency Department experiencing a mental health crisis. As part of the new behavioral health pod, eight rooms have been added to address the specific needs of children and adolescents in a psychiatric crisis. The rooms are equipped with secure access, specialized furniture and several other additions needed to best care for this delicate population. The Behavioral Health pod was made possible with generous support from the Mark and Kimberly Bartholomew Family Trust and Thoth Charities. The newly expanded Emergency Department is coupled with Children’s 51-bed Behavioral Health Center that opened in April of 2020, the only psychiatric program in the Gulf Coast region exclusively dedicated to the mental healthcare needs of children and adolescents in crisis.
Emergency Department
The Children’s Hospital Emergency Department offers a complete range of emergency services to care for children from birth through age 21, and is staffed with pediatric emergency medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, pediatric nurses, and other team members who work together to provide comprehensive patient and family-centered care for a wide variety of illness and injuries.
Throughout the space, various design elements including colorful lighting, illuminated textures, reading nooks, and bright colors have been integrated from the welcome desk to the care team stations, exam rooms and registration areas to create an environment just for kids and families. Our pediatric Emergency Department is often the front door to resolving a child’s medical issues, and Children’s Hospital is proud to be better equipped to meet the increasing needs of our community by expanding access and specialized services through our ED expansion.
