Taking Care of Children in the Emergency Department
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When Niagara resident Laurene saw the amazing care her grandson received at Niagara Health, she took the time to reach out and submit a compliment for the Emergency Department (ED) and the Children’s Health Unit.
As a grandmother of four little ones, she has seen her share of colds and flus and was grateful to see an important change Niagara Health has recently made in how they deal with children coming to the ED. We sat down with her to learn more about her family’s experience.
“When you access the ED, there is often a lot of wait time and when a child struggles to breathe, then that obviously increases the stress the parents feel during those hours,” she says, adding that her three-year-old grandson has asthma, which makes every respiratory illness extra difficult and scary.
“All of my grandchildren have had to go to the ED due to viral diseases this past winter, and while that is still always challenging, we noticed an intentional change in the way they serve kids in the ED.”
Laurene says that soon after being triaged, her grandchildren would be brought directly to the Children’s Health Unit, where they would be further assessed. “Very quickly, it would be determined whether they would have to be admitted or could go home with medication,” Laurene says.
It’s a clinical pathway Niagara Health introduced recently to better support pediatric patients with lower acuity.
“This pathway is designed to help children receive faster, specialized care for non-urgent issues,” says Laura Harsevoort, Clinical Manager, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Health.
It’s a change that made a difference for Laurene’s family. “That small change is a game changer.”
When Laurene’s grandson did need to be admitted, she says the care he received was outstanding. “I love the fact that they have a private room for the kids and that mom or dad can stay over with them,” she says. “It is a lot to deal with when your little one has asthma and then gets sick and doesn’t really understand what’s happening. Having that privacy as a family and being able to support each other through those difficult times is really important.”
Thankfully, she explains, Niagara Health also connected her grandson with an excellent pediatrician and allergist when he developed a nut allergy in addition to his asthma. “He is a real champ,” she smiles. “He knows when he needs his puffer and as he gets older, it is easier to explain things to him when he does have to go to the hospital.”
While Laurene hopes her grandsons don’t have to return to the ED, she is grateful for the change Niagara Health has brought to her family and families across the region. “It’s heart-wrenching when you see your kids take your grandkids to the hospital, but this change in how they approach kids in the ED has made the trip to the hospital a little bit less daunting and stressful for them. I want the teams at our local hospitals to know that we have noticed this change and are grateful for it.”
Taking Care of Children in the Emergency Department
When Niagara resident Laurene saw the amazing care her grandson received at Niagara Health, she took the time to reach out and submit a compliment for the Emergency Department (ED) and the Children’s Health Unit.
As a grandmother of four little ones, she has seen her share of colds and flus and was grateful to see an important change Niagara Health has recently made in how they deal with children coming to the ED. We sat down with her to learn more about her family’s experience.
“When you access the ED, there is often a lot of wait time and when a child struggles to breathe, then that obviously increases the stress the parents feel during those hours,” she says, adding that her three-year-old grandson has asthma, which makes every respiratory illness extra difficult and scary.
“All of my grandchildren have had to go to the ED due to viral diseases this past winter, and while that is still always challenging, we noticed an intentional change in the way they serve kids in the ED.”
Laurene says that soon after being triaged, her grandchildren would be brought directly to the Children’s Health Unit, where they would be further assessed. “Very quickly, it would be determined whether they would have to be admitted or could go home with medication,” Laurene says.
It’s a clinical pathway Niagara Health introduced recently to better support pediatric patients with lower acuity.
“This pathway is designed to help children receive faster, specialized care for non-urgent issues,” says Laura Harsevoort, Clinical Manager, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Health.
It’s a change that made a difference for Laurene’s family. “That small change is a game changer.”
When Laurene’s grandson did need to be admitted, she says the care he received was outstanding. “I love the fact that they have a private room for the kids and that mom or dad can stay over with them,” she says. “It is a lot to deal with when your little one has asthma and then gets sick and doesn’t really understand what’s happening. Having that privacy as a family and being able to support each other through those difficult times is really important.”
Thankfully, she explains, Niagara Health also connected her grandson with an excellent pediatrician and allergist when he developed a nut allergy in addition to his asthma. “He is a real champ,” she smiles. “He knows when he needs his puffer and as he gets older, it is easier to explain things to him when he does have to go to the hospital.”
While Laurene hopes her grandsons don’t have to return to the ED, she is grateful for the change Niagara Health has brought to her family and families across the region. “It’s heart-wrenching when you see your kids take your grandkids to the hospital, but this change in how they approach kids in the ED has made the trip to the hospital a little bit less daunting and stressful for them. I want the teams at our local hospitals to know that we have noticed this change and are grateful for it.”
