RICHMOND, Va. -- Makela Sydnor is in the Pediatric Emergency Room at Chippenham Hospital with a stomach virus. Usually a trip to the hospital can be stressful, she said, but this time around she's enjoying the new space and brighter colors.
"I think it's all organized and nice," the 16-year-old patient remarked.
Earlier this month, Chippenham Hospital opened its new Pediatric ER, upgrading from eight to 13 rooms. The new space is kid-friendly with highly trained pediatric doctors and nurses using child-sized medical equipment.
The new wing also has a triage space near the front entrance of the hospital where patients can be quickly evaluated and moved into rooms from the waiting area.
Dr. Jennifer Adu-Frimpong, the ER Director, said the new facility also allowed for x-rays and other medical tests to be performed in the patient's room. Clear glass doors offer patients and their parents some privacy, while allowing nurses to monitor a child's condition.
"It's been a great transition in terms of rooms," Dr. Adu-Frimpong said. "We played musical beds for a while there with our small area and kind of moving things around based on acuity because of the limited space."
Dr. Jennifer Adu-Frimpong
Hospital officials said the new Pediatric ER allowed for easier patient flow, especially during peak months when physicians are seeing up to 100 children a day.
"We have very specialized pediatricians with expertise and years of just taking care of children and being able to provide any emergent care that a child needs," Dr. Adu-Frimpong said.
If you would like to talk to a nurse about whether you should bring your child to the Pediatric ER or wait for your doctor's office to open, you can contact a Consult-A-Nurse by calling a hotline (804-320-3627) that is open 24/7.
Working For Your Health is a partnership with HCA Healthcare. Serving the greater Richmond area, Chippenham, Henrico Doctors’, Johnston-Willis, Parham Doctors’, and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital are part of HCA Virginia. Watch for Working For Your Health reports Tuesdays on CBS 6 News at 7 p.m.
Watch for Working For Your Health reports on CBS 6.
