CHRISTUS Children’s ERs are built for your children, with child-sized medical equipment and pediatric experts trained to address your child's emotional and physical needs.
When you visit our pediatric ER, you receive care at a fully specialized medical facility designed for infants, children, and adolescents.
The ER is staffed with experts who treat pediatric emergencies every day. When your child needs emergency care, you want care that is specifically designed for your child.
Children respond to illness and injury differently from adults. They can maintain normal vital signs for longer when they are sick. However, when a child’s condition declines, it often happens rapidly.
Children can't always explain what hurts or where they feel pain. They also don’t like getting their blood drawn, and often feel shy or uncomfortable around a doctor.
CHRISTUS Children's is prepared to care for your child and works to ensure your child can get the best care possible by:
If you are wondering if you should take your child to the ER, you are not alone. Many parents with newborns and toddlers often struggle with this question. Below are general guidelines to help you make a better decision. But it is always best to trust your parental intuition. If you think or feel like you need to go to the ER, go right away.
Emergencies can strike anyone at any time. But sometimes it can be hard to know what ailment is worthy of a trip to the emergency room vs. an urgent care center. Make an informed decision on the differences between Er and urgent care.
A severe infection might only show symptoms of a mild fever in an infant. Since infants can't fight infections like older children, this could be a sign of something more serious. Babies 0–60 days old should always be checked for a fever. A rectal temperature of 100.4°F is considered a fever.
What pediatric ERs do for young infants with fever:
If your newborn is critically ill, premature, or experiencing complications, CHRISTUS Health provides access to advanced neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across our system, including Level IV NICUs — the highest level of neonatal care available.
What a Level IV NICU provides for newborns in emergencies:
Everything in a pediatric ER is designed for a child’s safety, down to the millimeter.
Our children’s ERs are structured and equipped exclusively for kids with pediatric-trained staff:
Pediatric emergency physicians
Pediatric Nurses
Access to specialists 24/7 through CHRISTUS Children's
Our pediatric ERs are equipped with medical tools designed specifically for children of every age—from premature newborns to teenagers. This includes:
Pediatric nurses are trained to interpret subtle signs in non verbal or pre verbal children. They evaluate:
These cues help the team identify early signs of infection, breathing trouble, dehydration, or neurological issues.
Yes. Pediatric ER physicians can quickly consult or coordinate with subspecialists.
This access ensures faster diagnosis and treatment without dangerous delays or transfers.
Not all freestanding EDs are designed for kids. However, CHRISTUS Children's freestanding pediatric ERs are intentionally designed with children in mind:
Parents can expect:
When you come to the ER, it's important to have a good handle on your child's symptoms. It's also important to know your child's medical history — allergies, past illnesses, injuries, surgeries, immunization history, or chronic conditions.
Even if you know the medical history by heart, consider writing it down so it's handy during the chaos of an emergency. And keeping a written record readily available at home will let anyone caring for your child — such as a babysitter — provide it should your child be taken to the ER.
You also might be asked when your child last had anything to eat or drink. You should know the name and number of your child's primary care provider. And it's good to know the name and number of the pharmacy where you usually get your prescriptions filled.
If you come to the ER because your child has ingested a particular medication or household product, bring the container of whatever was ingested. That will help the doctors understand what kind of treatment is required. If your child has swallowed an object, bring an example of that object, if possible. If you think there's a chance that your child might have to be admitted to the hospital, you may want to grab a change of clothes and toothbrushes for you and your child.
Upon arrival, a pediatric triage nurse will quickly assess your child’s symptoms to determine the level of urgency. Children with potentially life-threatening conditions receive immediate care. All other patients are seen in order of clinical priority as rooms and providers become available.
Wait times depend on overall patient volume, room availability, and the severity of incoming cases. An empty waiting room does not always indicate a lack of activity inside the treatment area.
Please notify staff immediately if your child’s condition changes or worsens. Before allowing your child to eat or drink, check with the care team, as certain procedures require fasting. Language interpretation services are available for all families.
Our care is based on a family-centered philosophy. Parents are welcomed at the bedside, and our team communicates openly with you while explaining everything to your child in simple, age-appropriate language.
