Pediatrix Emergency Medicine of Nevada Celebrates Sunrise Children’s Hospital’s Recognition as Nevada’s First ‘Pediatric Ready’ Emergency Department

Sunrise Children's Hospital has become the first pediatric emergency department (ED) in Nevada to earn "pediatric ready" recognition from Nevada's Division of Public and Behavioral Health, marking a significant milestone for children's emergency care across the region and for the Pediatrix® Emergency Medicine of Nevada team that staffs the department.

The recognition reflects Sunrise Children's Hospital's ability to provide specialized emergency care for children and underscores the hospital's alignment with a national initiative focused on helping more facilities and emergency medical services teams prepare for pediatric emergencies. Pediatric readiness includes a broad set of standards, from having appropriately trained personnel and pediatric-specific equipment to maintaining dosing protocols, medications and ongoing education designed for children of all ages and sizes.

Sunrise attained the highest level of pediatric readiness, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for pediatric emergency and hospital-based care in Southern Nevada.

The Pediatrix team is central to Sunrise Children's Hospital's pediatric care model, staffing the pediatric ED, pediatric floor and pediatric, cardiac and newborn intensive care units (ICUs) as part of a broad hospital-based network supporting children throughout Southern Nevada.

"Pediatrix is essential to all children's health in Southern Nevada because we truly are carrying the bulk of all inpatient and hospital-based care for children in this region," said Jacob Snow, M.D., practice medical director.

For the Pediatrix Emergency Medicine of Nevada team, the recognition affirms the comprehensive preparation that takes place every day behind the scenes. From physicians and advanced practice clinicians to nurses, educators and pharmacists, pediatric readiness requires collaboration across the care team to ensure children receive the right care at the right time.

"Recognition like this is a testament to the entire team – nurses, physicians and advanced practice clinicians – and the effort they put in every day," said Dr. Snow. "We know we're ready because we handle a wide range of situations on a daily basis, but it's meaningful to receive that validation from an outside source. For families and parents in the community, it's reassuring to know that Sunrise and Pediatrix have dedicated resources in place to make sure that, whatever the situation, we're ready to help."

Pediatric emergency care requires a level of preparedness that extends far beyond a single type of event. Children may arrive with respiratory distress, traumatic injuries, complex medical histories or other urgent needs, and each situation requires the right training, protocols, supplies and clinical judgment. At Sunrise, the Pediatrix team has dedicated time and resources to prepare for the full range of pediatric emergencies, giving families confidence that specialized help is available when they need it most.

That preparation includes specialty-trained pediatric emergency and trauma physicians, advanced practitioners, nursing teams dedicated to pediatric patients and ongoing education led by pediatric emergency care coordinators, nurse educators and physician educators. It also includes pediatric-trained pharmacists prepared to dose medications appropriately for patients ranging from small infants to adult-sized teenagers, as well as equipment and supplies suitable for children across the full age and size spectrum.

Dr. Snow recalled one case that illustrates why this level of preparation matters. About a year ago, a young girl who had been sick for some time arrived at Sunrise with her mother and went into cardiac arrest on the sidewalk outside the hospital. She was brought into the ED abruptly, and the team immediately began a prolonged resuscitation that included approximately 30 to 40 minutes of CPR. The team restarted her heart, identified the underlying problem and connected her with the surgical intervention she needed. After an extended hospitalization with care from the pediatric ICU and hospitalist teams, she was able to leave the hospital neurologically intact. Although she continues to experience lingering health issues, she is now in fifth grade and is able to go to school, read and play.

"To be ready for something that critical at a moment's notice is exactly why preparedness matters," said Dr. Snow. "There was no question about what needed to happen. From the moment she was carried into the unit, everyone was aligned. The supplies were there, the medicine was there, the teams were there – that's why readiness matters."

The recognition also shines a light on the critical role emergency department teams play in a child's overall hospital journey. While families may spend more time with inpatient teams during a long recovery, the first moments of emergency care can determine what comes next.

"I'm grateful this certification recognizes the time and effort our teams invest in being prepared for anything and everything," said Dr. Snow. "They do great work every day, but the ED is often overlooked. When a patient is resuscitated in the ER, they may only be with us for an hour or two, while their time in the ICU or on the pediatric floor may last weeks or months. Families often remember the teams who cared for them during that longer recovery, but everything begins with the emergency department. Without those first interventions, they may never have made it to the ICU or pediatric floor, so it's meaningful to see that work recognized."

Learn more about our pediatric emergency medicine services or find care in your area.