Parents can feel helpless and afraid when their children need emergency health care. Having the appropriate facilities – a calming space that supports good decision-making – and specialized teams with experience caring for young patients, can help alleviate some of this stress and promote positive health outcomes.

That is why University of Vermont Medical Center has developed five new pediatric emergency department rooms and a dedicated waiting area that better support family-focused care and ease the stress of a hospital trip for children and families.

“Having dedicated child-friendly rooms for our pediatric patients in our emergency department further enhances the high-quality, state-of-the art pediatric emergency care we strive to provide to children and families,” says Lewis First, MD, chief of pediatrics at UVM Children’s Hospital. "This is something families and staff have been requesting for some time – and now we have made it happen."

The space is part of UVM Health's commitment to continuous improvement and dedication to providing the highest quality care to patients who rely on the academic health system. UVM Medical Center and UVM Children’s Hospital created the pediatric emergency department space to meet important clinical needs. Care teams now have dedicated space to focus on pediatric patients and their unique needs.

“Emergency departments can be loud and intimidating places for anyone, but particularly for our youngest and most vulnerable patients. By creating a separate space for our pediatric patients and their families, we have created a more comfortable, less stimulating environment for them to receive emergency care,” says Kristin Baker, RN, the emergency department’s nurse manager.

The pediatric emergency department rooms are within the existing emergency department, in an area previously used for offices. Additional pediatric capacity was created without minimizing existing treatment space. The new waiting area separates children and their families from the main public waiting room, allowing for a quieter, more calming space.

"While no trip to the ED is usually fun, we hope we have created a space that feels more welcoming and less scary during a time that is understandably stressful for everyone involved," says Baker.

The project was made possible through the generous philanthropic efforts of Tim Miller and Stephanie Miller Taylor, whose late father, Bob Miller, and late stepmother Holly Miller, previously provided philanthropic support to UVM Medical Center. Like Bob and Holly Miller, Tim and Stephanie were inspired by personal experiences to improve the patient experience for all.

“Tim and Stephanie are helping us improve the care we provide our youngest patients during their most trying times. We are so grateful to them for assisting us in delivering better care and providing the best possible experience for pediatric patients in the emergency department. We are fully committed to this effort, but their ongoing philanthropic support has allowed us to achieve some of our goals faster,” says Stephen Leffler, MD, president and chief operating officer of UVM Medical Center.

Dr. First says the new pediatric emergency space, which opened in early May, supports UVM Children’s Hospital mission to provide innovative services, treatments, and procedures to the youngest and often most vulnerable patients in our region.