At Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido, a primary initiative in the emergency department has been the creation of a dedicated Pediatric Critical Care Room to improve the care of

Palomar UC San Diego Medical Center Escondido Emergency Department

critically ill and injured children. Recognizing pediatric emergencies occur infrequently but require immediate access to specialized equipment, the department centralized age-specific supplies, medications and resuscitation resources into a single, standardized space. Comprehensive staff education accompanied implementation, resulting in increased confidence and preparedness during pediatric emergencies. The initiative has strengthened patient safety, improved response times during high-acuity events and was recognized by The Joint Commission as a best practice for innovation and excellence in emergency care.

The ED, which saw approximately 86,100 visits in 2025, also achieved sustained improvement in reducing the number of patients who left without being seen by implementing a structured split-flow care model designed to expedite assessment, diagnostics and treatment initiation. Providers are assigned to dedicated front care and verti-care treatment areas, while nursing staff initiate standardized triage protocols upon arrival. This approach enables rapid patient engagement, earlier interventions and streamlined progression through care pathways. As a result, LWBS rates continuously improved – from 4.8 percent in 2021 to 1.0 percent in 2025.