No lines, no fear: Brooklyn's largest children's emergency room opens

Imagine this: an emergency room with no lines, each child has their own room, toys are everywhere, the walls are decorated with beautiful pictures, and before every procedure, a specialist comes to explain to the little patient what will be done. A department like that from an American movie has opened online. Maimonides Health in brooklyn.

The new pediatric emergency department (4802 Tenth Avenue) is four times larger than the previous one. It took five years to build, and now, balloons are finally in place at the entrance, and future employees are eagerly awaiting the opening. The main pride of local doctors is that it will feature a fully-fledged pediatric trauma center.

«"Our department is one of 13 pediatric trauma centers in all of New York State and the only one in Brooklyn, a borough home to over 600 children!" says Emergency Department Director Eitan Diekman, not without pride. "Our emergency departments are among the busiest in the city and state."

Everything here literally sparkles; some of the equipment is still covered in plastic. X-ray, ultrasound, CT, and specialized trauma and intensive care units are available. They're even prepared to operate on the smallest babies—newborns weighing up to 500 grams. The space is divided into zones for severely and mildly ill patients—more than 30 beds in total, most of which are private rooms.

Why are pictures on walls important?

There's plenty of light, bright furniture, artwork on the walls, and cute teddy bears with balloons on the beds for the youngest patients. According to the hospital's management, when they created this department, they were primarily mindful of the fact that children are not small adults and require a different, more gentle approach.

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«Children make up only 20% of the population, but 100% — "Our future. We build our treatment around the child and their family," says Jeffrey Avner, head of the pediatrics department at Maimonides.

Therefore, when designing the new space, special attention was paid to the children's atmosphere - the interior, lighting, and even leisure activities.

«"We used bright colors, added interactive elements, and educational screens. Children can watch educational videos about X-rays and stitches to help ease their anxiety before procedures," adds Alex Arroyo, Head of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Maimonides.

Lego MRI and IVs on dolls

In addition, so-called child life specialists will work with children in this department—people who make hospital stays less stressful for the patients and their families.

«"First and foremost, we help educate patients," comments Alexis Ellis, a specialist in the department. "Often, children simply don't understand what's happening, so we explain it in language they understand—using toys, dolls, and play—to make it easier for them to understand. When children understand what's being done to them, they cooperate better with doctors: they take their medications and calmly undergo tests. They're less afraid, which makes it easier for the doctor to perform the procedure, such as preparing for an MRI. We have a LEGO set with a miniature MRI scanner: the bed moves, so the child can see what it looks like. We even turn on real MRI sounds so little patients get used to it beforehand and aren't afraid once they're in the real machine."

Child life specialists also provide emotional support to children and their families, as any hospital stay is a difficult time for the entire family. Therefore, psychologists discuss their feelings with parents, and help children express them through play. The hospital even has a special playroom for this purpose.

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The hospital welcomes Russian-speaking patients.

Dr. Daniel Novak was born at this hospital, completed his internship here, and is now a physician in the Maimonides emergency department and deputy medical director. He laughs, saying it's come full circle. He eagerly awaits new patients, who will arrive at the hospital this Thursday, October 23rd. He speaks Russian, and, according to the doctor, many of the nurses and other staff also speak Russian. Moreover, with translators available 24/7, they are ready to see even those who are new and haven't yet learned English.

«"We welcome patients from all over Brooklyn and even other boroughs! Even before we opened, people from as far away as Staten Island and Manhattan were coming to our old branch, so we're ready for full capacity," the doctor smiles.

He recommends that parents contact them in any case, even if the child does not need emergency help.

«"I would highly encourage people to come to us from all over New York City because we have a wide range of specialists. If a child needs any kind of care that isn't considered an emergency, we can transfer them to a regular hospital room. Even if you simply can't get to a specialist and have urgent questions, come see us," Dr. Novak encourages.

You don't need to be hospitalized to see a specialist. Outpatient services are available. Cardiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, and other specialists are available. Therefore, the doctors are confident they can help you in virtually any situation.

The new Maimonides Health Brooklyn Children's Emergency Department is located at 4802 Tenth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. It is open 24/7.