MOBILE, Ala. – The new Pediatric Emergency Center at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital opened its doors Monday morning to patients and their families.

“Our new Pediatric Emergency Center will transform care delivery for our children within this community and beyond,” said Deborah Browning, M.S.N., RN, CENP, chief executive officer of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “With specially trained pediatric emergency nurses, pediatric emergency medicine physicians, respiratory therapists and child life specialists, we are able to offer care that uniquely meets the needs of the children – from newborns to age 18.”

The newly expanded center is nearly 19,000 square feet – more than double the size of the former emergency department – and has more than 30 treatment areas, including 25 private treatment rooms. The center provides more space for parents and caregivers to be with their children and offers sensory strategies to help calm and support patients during their emergency visit.

Open 24 hours a day, every day, the center is Alabama’s only emergency department certified to have 100% pediatric readiness as determined by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“This is transformative,” said Edward Panacek, M.D., M.P.H., professor and chair of the department of emergency medicine. “The state-of-the-art capabilities of this new Pediatric Emergency Center, staffed by the only pediatric emergency specialists in the region, bring truly world-class pediatric care to Mobile.”

USA Health, the health system of the University of South Alabama, broke ground on the project in fall 2021 and dedicated the center in January 2024.

Learn more about the Pediatric Emergency Center at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.