9-bed Pediatric Emergency Department to open
On Monday, Jan. 12, a new Pediatric Emergency Department will open at MUSC. The facility’s entrance is on Jonathan Lucas Street next to the Clinical Sciences Building.
Ellen
Ruja, R.N., left, nurse manager of the Emergency Department, and Rebecca
Reamy, M.D., medical director of the new Pediatric Emergency Department,
admire one of the paintings adorning the walls of the new facility. Roungsri
Taw Raisanen of Summerville is the artist. Sodexho, the contractor responsible
for MUSC dietary services, donated this and several other pieces of artwork.
It will be South Carolina’s only full-service pediatric emergency department. The facility is staffed by physicians specially trained in pediatric emergency medicine and nurses certified in pediatric life support. The pediatric emergency team has at its immediate disposal in-house experts in every pediatric subspecialty.
“In addition to providing the highest level of medical care for children coming into the Pediatric Emergency Department, we are concerned with the psychosocial needs of our patients,” said Rebecca Reamy, M.D., medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department. “We have child-life specialists on staff to ease the fears of children, and the ambiance of the facility is specially designed for the physical and emotional comfort of the children.”
The new facility has nine private rooms displaying artwork reflecting themes like the jungle or cars. A TV, VCR and DVD player are in each room.
On Saturday, Jan. 11, a public open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Activities will show children what it is like to go to the doctor’s office, plus they will learn about staying safe at home, in the pool, while playing sports and more. Children can bring their tattered teddy bears and dolls to be mended at the MUSC Teddy Bear Clinic. Children will also have the opportunity to have their faces painted and to tour the Meducare ambulance.
MUSC employees will have an opportunity to preview the new facility and meet the staff on Friday, Jan. 9, at the employee open house from 2 to 4 p.m.
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as
needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu
or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community
Press at 849-1778.