Upon your child’s arrival to our pediatric emergency center, we understand as a parent you may feel anxious, but be assured that your child is in good hands within our kid-friendly, family-centered environment.

When you arrive, our specially trained pediatric nurses and team of board-certified pediatricians will evaluate your child’s condition and ensure around-the-clock pediatric expertise. The pediatric emergency center primarily deals with patients under the age of 18. 

There are four steps to being treated at Shaw Family Pediatric Emergency Center:

1. You must first check in at the main emergency department triage window. Please provide the patient’s name, birth date and reason for visiting the pediatric emergency department. You must show a picture ID. Your insurance card is not needed at this time.
2. Listen for the Triage Nurse or Pediatric Staff to call your name. We make every effort to bring your child directly back to the Pediatric Unit, but if the unit is full you may have to wait in the reception area.
3. Relocate for treatment. Sometimes your child’s condition may be treated more promptly if your child is seen in a hallway area. An example of this would be an ankle sprain or finger injury. In this case, the condition could be treated without having to wait for a room to become available. Patients with more life-threatening or serious concerns may still need to be brought to a room and treated before your child. You may choose to wait for a room if you desire; however, this may prolong your stay.
4. Registration is usually done at the bedside. The registrar will obtain any insurance information and ask you to sign documents necessary for treatment. Sometimes, we may ask you to go out to the Registration desk in the Reception area in order to be registered in a timely manner. We do not refuse patients without insurance.

What Is the Triage System?

It is a system that helps us assess the order in which patients need to be treated based on the severity of their medical conditions. In the Shaw Family Pediatric Emergency Center, it is important we treat severely injured or ill patients first, as it helps us treat all patients as quickly and safely as possible. For example, a patient arriving by ambulance, a patient having breathing problems or severe bleeding will be seen before a patient with a cut, sprain or broken bone, even if you arrived before those patients.

Sometimes your child's condition may be treated more promptly if your child is seen in a hallway area. An example of this would be an ankle sprain or finger injury. In this case, the condition could be treated without having to wait for a room to become available. Patients with more life-threatening or serious concerns may still need to be brought to a room and treated before your child. You may choose to wait for a room if you desire; however, this may prolong your stay.

Where Can I Find Food or Beverage?

If patients are in the waiting area, we ask that patients not eat or drink without permission from our medical staff. It is important to consult with the medical staff because some medical tests and procedures must be performed on an empty stomach. For family and friends, as well as patients allowed to eat and drink, refreshments are purchased from a variety of on-campus dining options. Learn more about our available dining and retail options.

Where Can I Park?

Parking for patients and visitors are clearly designated. Suburban Hospital does not validate parking receipts. Payment can be made by cash or credit card. Learn about our hourly rates and valet parking by visiting our parking information page or calling the operator at 301-896-3100.