The Emergency Departments at all three of Ephraim McDowell’s Hospitals (Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital) recently earned the status of having a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department.  To earn this recognition, the Emergency Departments had to meet specific criteria set by the Kentucky Pediatric Emergency Care Coalition, in compliance with national recommendations and guidelines.  Ephraim McDowell Health is the first health system in the state to earn this recognition for all of their Emergency Departments.

The Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program reviewed processes and documentation provided by Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital’s and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital’s Emergency Departments and then conducted an onsite review of the Emergency Departments.  Soon after the onsite reviews, the Emergency Departments were notified that they had earned the recognition of being a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department.  Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department received this recognition in 2019.

The KYEMSC Program works to decrease pediatric mortality and morbidity due to severe illness or injury by enhancing pediatric emergency care services throughout the state. It does this by building partnerships across the continuum of emergency care, offering special programs and training opportunities, and through policy development.

An official ceremony and plaque presentation was held on Thursday, April 22 at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.