Emergency Department
The Children's Hospital at OU MEDICAL CENTER

WE’VE MOVED!  Children’s Hospital has moved one block west to 1200 Everett Drive.  The new facility has been completely redesigned and redecorated to better meet the needs of our patients and their families.  View Maps, Directions & More >>

Our New Location:
- Emergency Department, New Children’s Hospital, 1st floor
- Use the Northeast Emergency Entrance off Everett Drive (directly across from the old Emergency entrance) 
- Emergency & Patient Valet Parking is on Everett Dr.

From I-235 southbound
- NE 10th St. exit #1-G
- Left (east) on 10th to Lincoln Blvd.
- Left (north) on Lincoln to NE 13th St.
- Right (east) on NE 13th St. to Everett Dr.
- Right (south) on Everett Dr. to the circle drive and Valet parking
- Valet parking is free (available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.): just leave your car with the attendant, who will park your car for you and bring it to you when you leave
- At night you may park in any available spot

From I-235 northbound
- Lincoln Blvd. exit #1-D
- Straight (north) on Lincoln to NE 13th St.
- Right (east) on NE 13th St. to Everett Dr.
- Right (south) on Everett Dr. to the circle drive and Valet parking
- Valet parking is free (available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.): just leave your car with the attendant, who will park your car for you and bring it to you when you leave
- At night you may park in any available spot

The staff of the Children's Emergency Department (ED) is specially trained to meet the needs of children by utilizing equipment that is outfitted for various ages of pediatric patients.

The Children's ED has a greater number of staff present to care for pediatric patients than would be found in an adult setting. The staff uses playfulness to make the ED experience less threatening.

Families are welcome to stay with their child, and all information provided to the patient is presented on a developmentally appropriate level. Families are consulted about treatment decisions, and taught how to care for the child's condition. In some situations, families are asked to assist in providing some of the child's care.

All Children's ED directors, managers, supervisors and staff nurses have advanced certification in pediatric care, which includes Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Trauma Nursing Care Course (TNCC), Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC), and many have Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

The ED has an Urgent Care Clinic; open 5 to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.   A pediatrician and a pediatric RN staff the clinic and provide care for less severe illnesses and injuries. Children seen in the Urgent Care Clinic are provided the same level of care as the ED but are generally seen more quickly and in an environment more like a physician's office.  Simply check-in at the ED admitting area (the clinic is located inside the ED).

"When you are able to take away a child's pain and hurt and see the smiles return, you know you have made a difference in a way that counts," said Barbara, a nurse in the Children's ER.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When are visiting hours? As part of the ED family-centered care practice, two family members are allowed by the child's bedside at all times. Although they are allowed to be present during all of the child's care, there may be a situation when the staff recommends the family leave the room so they do not feel uncomfortable. 

Is there a defined schedule or routine? Patients are first seen by the triage nurse to determine the reason for the visit and to assess immediate needs. The child is then registered and placed in the ED based on how sick he or she is (note: this is not necessarily the order in which the child is registered). Physicians and nurses begin comprehensive assessments, and based on those assessments, a treatment plan is developed and implementation begins.

Which care teams and physicians work in the Children's ED?  Physician staff includes attending physicians, resident physicians, interns and students. Physicians from all specialties are available for consultation and help care for patients, as appropriate. Nursing, respiratory care, pharmacy, interpreters, physical therapists, social workers, members of the IV team and chaplains all provide services in the ED, as they are needed and available.

Can families stay the night on the unit or nearby? Families can wait with the patient or in the waiting room.

How are patients prepared for discharge? The patient and their family are prepared for discharge based on the child's diagnosis and treatment plan. Once a decision is made that the child will be discharged, the family is taught what care they will need at home. They are also taught about medications, wound care, what the expected course of the child's problem will be, when to return to the ED or when to see their regular physician or specialist. If the child is going to be admitted to the hospital, families are given information about what room the child will be in and who will be caring for them. The staff is always happy to answer any questions regarding the child's care needs.

What types of patients are seen in the ED?  The ED receives patients who are referred from physicians and hospitals across the state, based on the level of the child's illness. The ED has the largest group of pediatric specialists in the state, and is the only pediatric ED associated with a Level One Trauma Center. The department also has their own medical flight team, Medi Flight, whose mission is to bring the most critical pediatric patients to the ED at Children's Hospital.