Erlanger Hospital announces plans to revamp Children’s Emergency Room
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Erlanger Hospital announced plans to makeover their Children’s Emergency Room at a press conference Wednesday. They made the announcement at the Kennedy Outpatient Center across the street.
Erlanger leadership says the goal is to make the emergency room environment calmer and more welcoming in what can be a traumatic moment for the young patients.
Debbie Spielman, CEO Children’s Hospital at Erlanger said, “We know how much the environment matters. Children are not simply little adults. I say that almost every opportunity I can get. They experience hospitals differently. The sounds, the lights, the feelings of a space, and when a child feels scared that affects how we can treat them, how long it takes to treat them, everything makes an impact.
Dr. Sarah Sterner Medical Director, Pediatric Emergency Department told us, “Walking into an emergency department can be overwhelming. There’s a lot going on and so if we can, if we can set the environment so that it’s already calming from the get-go that brings peace to people and that peace helps heals and so that’s what we’re trying to do here is be able to set the tone so it’s peaceful. It’s warm, It’s welcoming so that the remainder of that visit could help that child heal.”
Whitleigh Runyon is one of the Children’s Miracle Network’s Miracle Kids, and she says she’s excited about the changes. “I think that’s going to be great because I’ve seen people here that have a lot of conditions and that can’t help their anger sometimes and they are really sick. So I think the new change in this hospital is going to be amazing for all the kids and all the kids that are coming here soon.”
Speaking at the podium during the press conference, Sheila Boyington Board Chair, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger said “…And what we’re talking about today is really creating that child’s healing environment because that really will matter.”
Construction is set to begin this summer and finish by the end of the year.
