Royal Oak Beaumont to open new pediatric center to put children at ease

(WJBK) - Going to the emergency room can be frightening, especially for kids.

Some hospitals have special pediatric emergency centers that cater to kids. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak showed us what's new to make kids and parents feel a little more at ease. 

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the new pediatric emergency center, which is set to open Monday, July 16. It features 16 private rooms geared to make families more comfortable during a stressful time.  

"Being able to be comfortable when they come to the pediatric emergency center is really important because when they're coming in, it's really a time of high stress," says Dr. Kelly Levasseur, Beaumont Children's pediatric emergency director.

The Family-Centered Environment features artwork from the Detroit Zoo, flat screen TVs, and also has a free, open kitchen area for families (that includes slushies for the little ones).

"So one thing we can use slushies for, is we can mix them with some medicines to make them taste better for kids," Dr. Levasseur says. She says doctors can promise kids a slushie, too, if they're scared of getting an exam or X-ray.

Another tricky thing for parents is deciding when, exactly, to take your kid to the emergency room. Dr. Levasseur has some answers for that, too. 

"Fevers that last longer than five days, typically, kids need to come in. If they haven't peed at least twice in one day, they could be dehydrated and need to come in. If you see that your child has any time of convulsions, immediately call 911 or bring your child in here."
    
She adds Beaumont Children's Hospital pediatric ER is still seeing a lot of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, strep throat and stomach viruses.

Pediatric doctors are also seeing a lot of broken bones, mostly related to outdoor playground injuries.

Her advice? Keep a close eye on the kids and make sure they're playing safely.