ER Expansion

A visit to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Emergency Department (ED), home of the only Level 1 trauma center in South Broward, is designed to make it seem like a walk in the park for the youngest of patients and their families whether it’s for a minor injury or critical, life-threatening emergency care. 

Sporting new rooms, additional beds, and a new Short Stop area, Memorial Healthcare System officials, community members and staff gathered recently to unveil the expansion of the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Emergency Department recently. The expanded pediatric ED department is located within Memorial Regional Hospital.

The child-friendly environment features a welcoming, colorful and playful baseball-themed décor to help calm children’s fears and anxieties. The 14-bed expansion opens new doors for the ED by increasing its capacity to 36 beds to better serve the community and the families who trust Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in the care of their child. There is an area for quick care known as “Short Stop” designed to treat minor emergencies and discharge patients in a quick and friendly manner. Another kid-friendly feature is the presence of child life specialists, who are on hand to help ease the fears of young patients and make them feel more comfortable.

“The Pediatric Emergency Department at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is a hub for world-class pediatric care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Chantal Leconte, FACHE, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. “In the last fiscal year, the department saw approximately 70,000 pediatric visits which speaks to the high quality level of care that our team of experts provides to our youngest of patients and families.”

The multidisciplinary team of experts at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is composed of experienced, board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians, specialty- trained pediatric nurses and respiratory therapists certified in pediatric emergency care and a comprehensive array of top caliber subspecialists.