Emergency Medicine | Services

The Emergency Unit

The scope of services provided by division staff includes resuscitation and stabilization of critically ill and injured children, as well as the evaluation and treatment of all children seeking care on an unscheduled basis. Each child that visits the emergency department is provided with a complete continuum of care as professionals from various disciplines --including surgeons, radiologists, psychologists and social workers -- work together to assess and treat the child's needs.

The emergency department of St. Louis Children's Hospital has been touted by national magazines for its unique and kid-friendly design. Along with innovative aesthetics, the department provides streamlined care utilizing state-of-the-art medical equipment and information systems. The department features two large trauma rooms, 29 treatment rooms and five specialty treatment rooms.

CARES (Center for After-Hours Referral Emergency Services)

CARES is a separate service operating under the direction of Pediatric Emergency Services. The staff of the CARES unit provides emergent and urgent care for patients sent to the unit by referring physicians in the community. The physicians dedicated to the CARES program work in conjunction with referring physicians to augment patient care after typical office hours. The Division of Emergency Medicine Staffs two such units, one at St. Louis Children's Hospital and one at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, a large suburban hospital.

CARES hours of operation are Monday - Friday, Noon - 11 p.m.; every Saturday and Sunday.

Physician referral line: (800) 678-4357

Transport Services

A part of practicing pediatric emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital is participating as a member of the Transport Team.

St. Louis Children's Hospital offers the most extensive and experienced transport service in the St. Louis area. Every transport mission is staffed by a specially trained physician, nurse, and paramedic team that care exclusively for infants and children. Some transport missions may also include various pediatric specialists, such as a cardiologist, neonatologist or respiratory therapist.

Initial stabilization by the Transport Team is performed by the referring hospital. Patients are triaged en route to St. Louis Children's Hospital so that appropriate treatment is immediately available. If surgery is necessary, the patient can be in the operating room just minutes after arrival.

How We Get There

When selecting the best mode of transport for the patient, the Transport Team considers patient condition, weather, and distance.

Modes of Transport

Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs) – Specially equipped mobile transport units that provide a bridge between newborn and pediatric intensive care from one hospital to another.

Air Service – Helicopter, propeller plane or jet. ARCH Air Service used on air transports has received the Air Medical award from the MBB Helicopter Association for completing over 5,000 consecutive missions without incident.

The Transport Team works closely with community hospital nursing staffs to ensure that patients are properly prepared for transport. Once at St. Louis Children's Hospital, the team remains in communication with referring pediatricians and nurses. The patient's status is reported to them upon arrival and again 24 hours after admission. Status calls continue to be made at least weekly during hospitalization. Transport protocol includes a follow-up survey after every transport to assure that the quality of services continually improves.

Child Protection Program

Information for:

• family, friends or caregivers;
• healthcare professionals seeking consultation, services or education
.

To reach us by phone call (314) 454-2879.