Officials cut ribbon on new children's emergency department | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

    GREENVILLE, NC     Officials with Vidant Health and Vidant Medical Center cut the ribbon today on the new children's emergency department.

    The new children's emergency department is located next to the main emergency department at Vidant Medical Center.

    On hand for the event were:

    · Steve Lawler, president, Vidant Medical Center
    · Lisa Hermann, staff chaplain, Vidant Medical Center
    · David Womack, chair, Vidant Health Board of Directors
    · Dr. Theodore Delbridge, chief of emergency services, Vidant Medical Center, and chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
    · Dr. Ronald Perkin, co-medical director, Vidant Children's Hospital, and professor and chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
    · Van Smith, Jr., senior vice president, Vidant Medical Center

    The children's emergency department is approximately 12,800 square feet with 16 exam/treatment rooms. Two of these rooms are fully functional resuscitation rooms with state-of-the-art equipment. The new department has a separate entry from the general emergency department but is also connected to the main ED on the interior of the medical center. Both the main ED and the children's ED share a common ambulance drop-off area for emergency vehicles.

    "We are thrilled to have officially opened our new children's emergency department," said Dr. Delbridge. "This is the culmination of many years of research, planning and discussions on how best to provide this service to the children of eastern North Carolina. We hope that what we have built will help to ease the fears and anxiety of the children who come here for treatment."

    In addition to the interior renovations necessary to house the new department, a new drive-through drop-off canopy was built to better serve the increased volume of patients being directed to this portion of Vidant Medical Center. The new covered drive-through will also accommodate the current ambulatory surgical unit entrance located in this same area.

    The new children's emergency department was designed by a team of patient families, physicians, and clinical staff guided by architects. A primary focus of the design was the incorporation of "positive distraction" elements such as: interactive video projections; large screen video nature scenes; soothing, adjustable lighting elements; and simulated stars on the ceilings of the exam rooms.

    "Our ultimate goal is to provide state-of-the-art, compassionate emergency care to the children of our region in a facility that is equally state-of-the-art," said Delbridge.

    The department will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


    Contact: Beth Anne Atkins, Vidant Health Strategic Development, (252) 847-7735 or beth.atkins@VidantHealth.com

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in nine eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. The health system includes Albemarle Health, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Pungo Hospital, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.