Luminis Health - Anne Arundel Medical Center - Pediatric Emergency Department

Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), like many hospitals, had limited pediatric resources and this expertise was split between two units, the emergency department (ED) and the inpatient pediatric unit. When they undertook a project to renovate and expand the emergency department, they used this opportunity to create a separate pediatric ED and include the inpatient pediatric unit within this new department.

The pediatric ED/inpatient unit is located adjacent to AAMC’s ED but is enclosed as a separate unit to maintain privacy and security as well as to make sure that the children have very minimal exposure to the adult ED. Based on the vulnerability of the patient group, safety and security were a major concern and impacted the design of the unit.

Pediatric patients entering the ED are immediately segregated from the general patient population and placed in a private pediatric waiting area. Triage occurs within the pediatric unit, again minimizing contact with adult patients. ED treatment cubicles and eight inpatient rooms share a common central core which houses support spaces as well as a shared centralized nursing station. Depending on inpatient census, the inpatient rooms can be used by the pediatric ED for overflow patients.

As a means of deinstitutionalizing the appearance of the unit, careful consideration was given to the theming of the environment. The resulting solution is based on familiar street scenes in Annapolis as well as elements of the Chesapeake Bay. The design has appealed to a full range of children and family members.