Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital Unveils Newly Expanded and Renovated Pediatric Emergency Department

Atrium Health Levine Children’s announces the unveiling of its newly expanded and renovated pediatric emergency department at Levine Children’s Hospital, dedicated to providing expert emergency care in Charlotte in a kid-friendly, kid-focused setting.

Repeat visitors will notice some changes right away. The colors are brighter and more aesthetically pleasing. The walls contain more kid-friendly artwork, including digital art. Floors and cabinets have been redone, and the space has a more kid-friendly feel with child-sized equipment and furniture.

Capacity and staffing have also been increased. There are four more beds, four additional pediatric emergency medicine providers, and two expanded spaces for triage with a range of monitors. Additionally, there are two rooms where all of the medical equipment is stored behind doors, which allows for safe care of patients with behavioral health needs. A procedural room – for conditions such as treating broken bones – has been enlarged and stocked with more equipment to handle more special procedures.

Levine Children’s emergency department can treat any and all serious or life-threatening illnesses, injuries and conditions. No matter the reason for a visit to Levine Children’s emergency department – the Charlotte area’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma center – children and their families will receive treatment that other places can’t match.

“All emergency departments are capable of caring for children,” says Chad Scarboro, MD,  medical director of pediatric emergency medicine at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. “But a dedicated pediatric emergency department gives you a little bit more. Visits to the emergency room can be a stressful and scary time in a child’s life, and this facility helps the clinical team in caring for the patient and the family.”

Levine Children’s emergency department is staffed with Child Life specialists to provide vital, exceptional care and support to patients and their families. When doctors are providing care to really sick children, a Child Life specialist is there for the kids to support them emotionally and psychologically as they navigate through a difficult situation.

When it comes to children, emergency departments and new environments, Levine Children’s emergency care is unmatched. Levine Children’s extends its emergency care services to the only pediatric emergency care location in the Lake Norman area – inside the Atrium Health Huntersville Emergency Department, a facility of Atrium Health University City – with trained specialists that are fully backed by Levine Children’s Hospital, which has been nationally ranked as a best children’s hospital for 13 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.

Atrium Health’s COVID-Safe measures are in full effect at Levine Children’s pediatric emergency department. One example is direct bedding, where patients can go from the front door to their own room, limiting intermingling with other patients and families.

“We try to do as much care as we can in patients’ individual rooms,” Dr. Scarboro says, adding providers change their personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering. “There’s an understanding that sometimes we have to transport patients to other areas for specialized services, like CAT scans. And if the family wants to go to the restroom or cafeteria, we offer them gloves, require face coverings in all areas, and encourage hand washing.”

Learn more about our newly expanded and renovated pediatric emergency department at Levine Children’s Hospital.