Contact: Ellen Bank
843.792.2626
Jan. 8, 2004
CHARLESTON, SC -- On Monday, January 12 a new Pediatric Emergency Department
will open at the Medical University of South Carolina. The facility’s
entrance is at Jonathan Lucas Street next to the Clinical Sciences Building.
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 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. Each room has a theme such as a jungle
theme or a car theme, with artwork reflecting the theme. A TV, VCR and DVD 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 be offered to show children what it is like to go to the doctor’s
office, plus they will learn about how to stay 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, tour the Meducare ambulance and test their safety
knowledge by playing the Safety Jeopardy Game.
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., and local physicians are invited to the facility on Thursday, Jan 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
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