Emergency Medicine

Contents

• About the Division
• Clinical Programs
• Research Programs
• Training Programs
• Related Links
• Contact List

About the Division

The Division of Emergency Medicine provides 24-hours per day, 365 days per year pediatric care for local and regional children from birth through age 21. Emergency Services provides specialized physician, nursing, social and environmental expertise in management of urgent, emergency and critical pediatric medical and surgical issues.

Emergency medicine is dedicated to providing premier quality, up-to-date, consistent, safe and efficient pediatric emergency care in a family-centered environment. Emergency medicine is actively redefining and refining its operation, standards and facilities to ensure highest quality and optimal practice. This focus on excellence and process improvement, both within the department and with our care delivery partners, has produced excellent results in quality of care, patient satisfaction, length of stays and other metrics of emergency medical care quality and service delivery. We currently operate 25 dedicated ED beds, with an additional 8 beds available during evenings and weekends. Our ED based urgent care is staffed from 11 am to 1 am 7 days a week. The expanded physical and operational capacity, and the corresponding increase in physician, nursing and administrative services have greatly improved our ability to respond effectively to our patients and community and ensure optimal quality and efficiency.

Emergency Medicine treats close to 40,000 patients per year, with half of all patients who are admitted to Children’s Hospital initially cared for in the department.

It is a center for resident and other medical staff education in the acute management of ill and injured infants, children and adolescents. Over 120 residents from the University of Washington pediatric training program and multiple family medicine and emergency medicine programs train in our division each year. We are also very invested in the education of medical, nursing and paramedic students. These educational experiences all include a didactic curriculum and significant hands-on training. Faculty members also participate actively in education from the local to the international level. The division sponsors an ACGME-approved pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program, currently with three fellows. These fellows come from a background of pediatrics or emergency medicine.

Over 21 faculty physicians and 23 clinical pediatric physicians provide care in the Emergency Department and in Urgent Care and After Hours Centers. PEM specialists Drs. Derya Caglar, Elena Shephard and Rebecca Partridge joined the division in 2008. The clinical director for the department is Dr Russell Migita. Faculty physicians hold leadership positions in local, university, state and national organizations. The division is involved in primary and collaborative clinical research, focusing on education, sedation, respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, injury management, injury prevention, informatics, quality, resuscitation and safety.

Clinical Programs

Our pediatric emergency department is located at Seattle Children’s Hospital that is affiliated with the University of Washington. We are a level III trauma center and provide 24-hour, seven days a week care for children in an acute or crisis situation.

Our team of physicians are equipped to handle all types of pediatric emergencies except major trauma. Patients requesting an evaluation with less severe illnesses are seen in our urgent care clinic.

Research Programs

The faculty of the Emergency Medicine Division conduct research on a variety of problems related to the health and emergency care of children and adolescents. Specific areas of study include drowning and prevention, pediatric resuscitation, analgesia and sedation, patient safety, and medical education and the evaluation of resident teaching.

Training Programs

The fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a 3-year program that combines clinical education in pediatric emergency medicine along with an emphasis on clinical research. Our fellowship offers the opportunity to obtain an MPH and all fellows are expected to take classes at the University of Washington School of Public Health. We accept one fellow every year. We use our resources to provide an excellent clinical and research education to our fellows.

More information can be found on the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship page.

Related Links

• Emergency Department at Seattle Children's Hospital
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship
• UW Medicine website - Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship

Contact List