If you are concerned about your child’s health, you may come to Greenville Memorial Hospital Children’s Emergency Center (CEC) at any time without an appointment. Our doors are open 24 hours each day, and there are physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals trained in pediatric emergencies to care for your child.
If your child has recently received treatment in the CEC and you have concerns related to your child’s medical health, you may call your primary care provider or you may return to the CEC. Our staff is always available to perform further evaluation, including additional testing, if needed.
The Children’s Emergency Center (CEC) is the Upstate’s only emergency care facility specifically for children.
Triage is the process of evaluating the seriousness of your child’s illness or injury. When you first arrive, you and your child will be seen by the triage nurse who is specially trained to take care of children in the CEC. This registered nurse will ask you questions about your child’s illness or injury, check your child’s temperature and weight, and briefly examine your child.
It is important to give all the needed information to the triage nurse. If your child has a life-threatening or very serious illness or injury, he or she will be seen by a doctor with the nurse right away.
After triage, you will usually meet with the registrar. The registrar will ask you for information such as your address, telephone number, and health insurance information. This information will help us to contact you or your child’s doctor about your child’s care. Paperwork necessary for your CEC visit will be given to you to complete at that time.
You may be asked to wait in the waiting area until an exam room or doctor is available to see your child. Please understand that patients may not be seen in the same order of their arrival to the CEC. Patients with the most serious illnesses and injuries will usually be given priority.
We have many toys, books, and a television available in the waiting area. While you are in the waiting area, please do not give your child anything to eat or drink without checking with the triage nurse first.
As soon as possible, you and your child will be brought into an exam room. A team of doctors and nurses will care for your child. Your child may be initially seen by a resident physician, who is a medical doctor in training to care for children. Your child will also be seen by an attending physician, who is a medical doctor trained to care for children with emergencies. The attending physician supervises the care of your child.
Depending on your child’s condition, your doctor may order a blood test, x-rays, or other tests to help determine what is wrong with your child. Each test will be fully explained to your before it is performed.
A top priority of our CEC is to make sure each child is as comfortable as possible, and to quickly evaluate and treat pain. If your child is in any pain, please make sure a doctor or nurse is notified.
When your child’s care is complete, the doctor or nurse will give you information on how to care for your child’s illness or injury. They will also tell you about follow-up care. If you have any questions after you leave, call the CEC or you may call your child’s primary care provider.
Your doctors may decide that your child needs to stay in the hospital longer for further observations or tests. Arrangements will be made for your child to be moved to an inpatient bed on either of our general pediatric units or the pediatric intensive care unit as soon as possible.
When your child is admitted, you will be asked to sign forms that permit the hospital to perform tests and provide treatment. At this time, you will also receive information about insurance coverage and the billing process.