Pediatrics

Halifax Health – Pediatric Emergency Department is here to ensure that our youngest patients have access to the best possible care when they need it most. Featuring twelve private rooms and a pediatric resuscitation room, the Pediatric Emergency Department is fully-staffed with board-certified emergency pediatricians, trauma surgeons, emergency department physicians and intensivists who have been specially trained to care for pediatric patients. Halifax Health's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit provides care 24 hours a day for pediatric patients that require a higher level of care. The Pediatric Emergency Department works closely with Speediatrics, our NASCAR-themed inpatient pediatric unit, and our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (Pediatric ICU) which is located at Halifax Health Medical Center in the Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics. The Pediatric ICU at Halifax Health Medical Center utilizes a multi-disciplinary team focused on caring for young patients.

The team of experts includes:

• Pediatric intensivists (physicians who specialize in pediatric intensive care)

• Critical care nurses

• Respiratory therapists

• Rehabilitation therapists

• Pharmacists

• Dietitians

• Medical social workers

Depending on the needs of the child, other specialists may be involved in his or her care. The Pediatric ICU at Halifax Health Medical Center has the best trained, best qualified and most comprehensive staff in the area.

With four conveniently located offices in Volusia/Flagler counties, we are here to provide high level pediatric care for the littlest members of your family.

• Daytona Beach - Keech Pediatric Neighborhood Care
• Ormond Beach, Booth Road
• Palm Coast
• Port Orange

Halifax Health | Brooks Rehabilitation – Pediatric Rehabilitation is proud to provide pediatric therapeutic services for the children in our community that have neurological, physical, developmental and learning disabilities. Our team of pediatric rehabilitation experts work with each child to create an individualized care plan that takes into account their developmental and educational needs while also incorporating their home environment and family needs.

Services include:

• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• speech therapy
• infant feeding therapy
• pediatric recreation

A pediatric urologist treats issues with a child’s or teen’s kidneys, renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and urethra in males and females. In addition, disorders of the penis and testicles in males and disorders of the vagina in females are also conditions treated by a pediatric urologist.

We offer leading edge minimally invasive treatments, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery for pediatric urologic conditions.

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Halifax Health Medical Center is the section of the hospital dedicated to the treatment of children who need the highest level of medical attention and care. Children are admitted to the PICU when their needs can’t be adequately met on the hospital’s main floors when they need closer monitoring of their condition (such as after surgery) or they are taking medications that must be carefully supervised. Halifax Health offers the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the area, providing services 24 hours a day.

Caring and Dedicated Staff of the PICU

The PICU of Halifax Health Medical Center utilizes a multi-disciplinary team focused on caring for young patients.

• Pediatric Intensivists (Doctors who specialize in pediatric intensive care)
• Critical care nurses
• Respiratory therapists
• Rehabilitation therapists
• Pharmacists
• Dietitians
• Nurse Case Managers

Depending on the needs of the child, other specialists may be involved in his or her care. The PICU at Halifax Health has the best trained, qualified and most comprehensive staff in the area.

What to Expect in the PICU

Children are often admitted to the PICU because of the intensive care or testing they need. Halifax Health recognizes that the hospital environment can be very intimidating to young patients (and their parents). Such anxiety is normal, but knowing what to expect can do a great deal to ease the fears of the patients and parents. Every child’s experience will differ depending on their needs, but some of them may include:

IVs

• • An intravenous catheter (IV) is a small gauge needle attached to a very thin tube and may be given to a child to administer fluids or medication. Once inserted into a vein, the needle is removed leaving just the soft tubing. Arterial lines may be used to closely monitor blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood.

Medications

• • One of the reasons children may be admitted to the PICU is to monitor them when taking medications that are particularly strong or may have side effects. The medication may be given orally, in a pill or via other methods, such as an IV.

Monitors

• • A large part of the stress of the hospital environment is being attached to a lot of blinking, beeping machinery; but closely monitoring a child in the PICU is of the utmost importance.
    • Chest leads – Small sticky pads which connect to wires from the monitor and are used to measure heart and breathing rate
    • Pulse oximetry machine (pulse ox) – Attached to a finger, toe or for very small children, across a foot and used to measure oxygen levels in the blood. It is painless and non-invasive
    • Blood pressure cuff
    • EEG pad – Sticky pad is placed on the side of the patient’s head to measure brain activity

Tests

• • A child may need to undergo tests to determine more about their condition. All of these tests are painless and used solely to gather information and help with treatment.
    • X-rays
    • Ultrasounds
    • CAT scans
    • MRIs

What to Expect

The PICU at Halifax Health Medical Center is designed to offer the full gamut of care to its young patients, from physical, to emotional, to spiritual. Halifax Health employs top talent in specially trained nurses and specialty pediatricians, offering excellent counseling and support services for patients and families.

Speediatrics, the pediatrics unit at Halifax Health, was designed with the idea of caring for the whole child in mind. Brightly decorated with a racing theme, Speediatrics creates a cheerful and reassuring environment for children. The Daytona International Speedway is nearby the medical center, and NASCAR drivers often come to visit with young patients during Race Week and other events. There are displays of memorabilia from NASCAR cars and drivers, and the Speediatrics Wall of Fame has autographs from many famous visitors.

Halifax Health – Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics was designed with the idea of caring for the whole family in mind. Brightly decorated with a NASCAR racing theme, Speediatrics creates a cheerful and reassuring environment for the children that are receiving care and for their families.

The Daytona International Speedway is located near the medical center, and NASCAR drivers often come to visit with young patients during Race Week and other events. There are displays of memorabilia from NASCAR drivers and cars, with autographs from the many famous visitors on the Speediatrics Wall of Fame. With the help of the NASCAR Foundation and community partners, we are able to create positive and memorable experiences for the children and families that come to Speediatrics.

The NASCAR theme is carried throughout all aspects of our 32-bed pediatric unit, even with the ceiling tiles that have the Speediatrics characters on them. First opened in 1999, it was newly renovated and reopened on November 10, 2010. Speediatrics cares for more than 2,000 children each year, including about 300 of those receiving care in the PICU. Speediatrics care extends to the Pediatric Emergency Department located in Halifax Health Medical Center’s Emergency Department, France Tower Ground Level and is also NASCAR-themed.

What can I expect in the Speediatrics Unit?

• Highly experienced physicians and pediatric intensive care specialists are supported by a team of skilled nurses and staff
• Sleep beds for parents in patient rooms
• Teen Room with movies, video games and activities for older children
• Kids Room with toys and activities for younger children
• Parent Lounge
• Iconic signature wall that includes autographs from drivers and other guests who have visited the unit
• Betty Jane France Pediatric Resource Library consisting of a computer/printer with access to top pediatric medical books and publications
• Laptop computers available to patients for use in their rooms with patient access to the Internet and email to communicate with their schools, families and friends