Did you know that if your child has a medical emergency, there is a dedicated pediatric ER right here at Augusta University? That’s right. Since 1998, the Children’s Hospital of Georgia Emergency Department has provided rapid emergency care to children of all ages and stages – from bruises and broken bones to appendicitis and traumatic injuries.
And what’s better than that? We’re never closed. That’s right. Our expertly trained emergency medicine specialists are here 24/7 to take care of your children — from their first week of life up to their 18th birthday, and occasionally into their 20s. When needed, we can call on specialist teams for any kind of pediatric disease or injury, many who come to the emergency department to assist in your child’s care right away.
The CHOG Emergency Department serves children and families within a 150-mile radius of Augusta, including places northwest toward Atlanta and into South Carolina, as well as southeast Georgia. The number of children cared for annually has grown from about 13,000 in the late 1990s to more than 30,000 today, with anywhere from 50 to 100 children treated on a daily basis.
Our staff provides expertise and peace of mind to families during some of their most trying moments. I am extremely proud of the caliber of care we provide and of the caring attitude we have for those who come through our doors. Once here, your child’s needs can and will be met. We should not have to transfer you to another institution if you should need to stay.
The CHOG Emergency Department is situated near the Adult Emergency Department but is a completely separate wing… with separate waiting and exam rooms and uniquely qualified physicians, nursing and patient care staff.
Each room in our 16-bed unit is uniquely and exclusively designed for children with amenities like night lights and vivid colors. There’s no shortage of the appropriate child-sized equipment, and we offer a safe and comfortable environment for the family, too.
We offer:
- A child-friendly environment designed exclusively for children with comfort, safety and pain control in mind
- A neonatal transport team
- A pediatric transport team
- Child life specialists to help children understand and cope with treatment
- Close coordination with our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and inpatient intensivists
- Fast, easy access to pediatric pulmonologists, cardiologists, surgeons and other pediatric specialists
- Patient-and family-centered care: We encourage families to be present for procedures, resuscitation and other emergency treatment needs their children may have
- Pediatric emergency physicians who can provide support and advice to EMS for patients who need intervention during transport
- Pediatric nurses with Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications
- The area’s only pediatric trauma unit with a staff trained to care for traumatic injuries in children and to coordinate care requiring immediate surgical interventions
Pediatric emergency medicine physicians train about two to three years more than those in general emergency medicine or general pediatrics, which better prepares them to provide care for the sickest of the sick, injured or ill children. Most of our experts have been in the field since the early 90s and serve as members and leaders in local, state and national organizations involved in the safety and care of children, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pediatric emergency medicine physicians have to be knowledgeable and adaptable to the physiological, developmental, behavioral and epidemiological changes that occur during childhood. We are uniquely prepared to deal with these changes because of our extensive training.
We hope you won’t need us anytime soon, but remember, we’ll be here – 24/7 – just in case you do.
