How We Care for Your Child in the Emergency Department at UMC

When you and your child arrive at the ED, you will go through a quick registration process with one of our patient access representatives. This will add your child’s name in our system. Next, the nurse (triage nurse) will see your child to conduct the initial evaluation. This evaluation helps us to assess your child and their medical needs. Please be aware that patients who come after your child may be seen before yours if they are sicker and need immediate attention.

Next, a nurse will take your child’s vital signs (like temperature and blood pressure) and get more information about your child’s symptoms and history. A nurse may give medicine for pain or fever to help your child to feel better. They may also order a radiology test (like an X-ray) so that the results are ready when a doctor, physician assistant (PA), or nurse practitioner (NP) is ready to see you.

Your child’s comfort is a priority, so please share any information that would help us provide the best possible care for you and your child. We want to partner with you to understand your child’s medical history, including medical conditions, medications and allergies.

If you speak a language other than English, we have interpreters and access to audio and video interpretation for over 50 languages, including ASL. Let us know your preferred language so we can accommodate you.

Sometimes the ED can be busy, and space in our treatment area may not be available. During these times, you will be asked to wait in the waiting room. As soon as space is available, your child’s name will be called, and a staff member will take you back to the treatment area. If your child’s condition seems to be getting worse, tell a staff member right away.

When you are in the treatment area, your child will be examined and evaluated by a team of health care providers (doctors, Pas and nurses). The number of staff you meet can be overwhelming, but everyone is working together to help you and your child. The care team will discuss the treatment plan that is needed with you and your child. The treatment plan may include medications, tests (like bloodwork, X-ray, CT scan), or procedures (like stitches or surgery). Also, your child may need to stay in the ED for observation, so the care team can carefully monitor them to make sure they can go home safely.

A patient access representative (sometimes called “registration”) will register your child into the ED by entering your child’s name and other information into the computer. They will get your insurance information if you have it and ask you to sign a consent form. They may ask you for a co-pay if your insurance requires it.

You will meet several different nurses during your ED visit, and all are specially trained to care for children. The triage nurse in the waiting room will ask you about your child’s symptoms, do an initial evaluation, and determine the treatment area where your child will be seen. Your bedside nurse will talk to you and examine your child. They will talk to the provider and discuss what needs to be done. They may give medicines, start an IV or draw blood, or measure your child’s vital signs. They will also notify the doctor if your child is getting better or worse. They will help teach you what you need to know to care for your child while they are sick or injured.

This person is a student or a doctor-in-training, and they may see you first. They will talk to you and your child, examine them, and help figure out what tests or treatments are needed. The resident or medical student will then confirm with the doctor what needs to be done.

You may be seen by a doctor, a PA or an NP. They will talk to you and your child and examine them. They will try to figure out what is wrong, and order any tests or treatments needed. There are senior doctors, called attending physicians, who supervise care in the ED.

The ED team may speak with a consultant (specialist) about your child’s care. The consultant is usually another doctor at Children’s National who is an expert in treating a specific type of illness or injury and who may see your child for follow up care.

Your patient care or trauma tech may put in stitches, start an IV, draw blood, place a splint, teach you to use crutches, measure vital signs, help with a procedure, or take you to X-ray or another part of the hospital.

A pharmacist or pharmacy tech may review your child’s home medications with you to make sure that your child receives all the medicines they need while in the ED.