South Jersey Healthcare, Vineland, NJ, celebrated the opening of the Joseph Zeccardi, MD Pediatric Emergency Department at the SJH Regional Medical Center on Feb. 6. Designed specifically for children, this new eight-bed unit features specialized equipment and exam rooms, as well as a kid-friendly waiting area.

"We all know that a trip to the ER can be stressful for anyone," said Elizabeth A. Sheridan, RN, MA, SJH's chief operating officer of the Regional Medical Center and corporate chief nurse executive. "For children and their parents, it can be especially trying. It is our sincere hope that our new pediatric emergency department will make the experience less stressful for the entire family."

SJH emergency medicine physicians, specially trained nurses and pediatric hospitalists from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children will partner to ensure excellent age-appropriate care. Dedicated emergency department beds will ensure quicker triaging of sick children and decrease wait times. If needed, Nemours Kids transport is available to bring pediatric patients to duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE.

The addition of this new pediatric emergency department comes less than one year after the opening of the Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - further enhancing SJH's collaboration with Nemours to provide quality pediatric care to the region.