Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Pediatric Emergency Department

Bronx, New York

The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Pediatric Emergency Department, which cares for more than 50,000 children annually from birth to 20 years old, maintains a culture of collaboration, respect and continuous quality improvement. The CHAM ED stands out for how the team coordinates care to address complex conditions like sickle cell disease, implements tools to keep families informed of activities taking place in the ED and holds family-friendly events and education. Since 2021, initiatives such as patient experience cards and activities like the Teddy Bear Hospital educate families, engage staff in their care, and reduce patient healthcare-related fears and anxiety. The patient experience cards ensure families are informed about their child’s medical team, provide time estimates for next steps in their care plan, and detail procedures a child may need. Another initiative, launched in 2022, ensures that within minutes of arriving, patients at the CHAM ED are warmly greeted by a nurse and promptly assessed.

Additionally, the CHAM ED is dedicated to employee wellness and recognition through programs such as Cheers for Peers, Good Catch spotlight, and Compassionate Care Awards. In collaboration with the education team, the ED was instrumental in developing the New Graduate Residency Program which prepares novice nurses to practice.