Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Call 911 if your child is experiencing a life-threatening medical situation
The Emergency Department at Monroe Carell is here when your child faces a routine mishap or something far more serious. Our goal is to always provide the region's best emergency care as quickly as possible, any time of day or night. Our Pediatric Emergency Medicine physicians have the highly specialized skills and knowledge required to respond to any pediatric emergency.
We also offer 24-hour pediatric emergency services at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center. Specially trained doctors are equipped to handle most pediatric emergencies.
Our After-Hours Clinics offer convenient walk-in care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries that do not require emergency care.
For a poison emergency, call the Poison Hotline at (800) 222-1222. All calls are free. Our board-certified toxicologists supervise the Tennessee Poison Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Tennessee Department of Health and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have certified us as the statewide poison control center.
Conditions We Treat
We treat all emergency conditions, including:
- Acute medical problems
- Major injuries
- Overdoses
- Poisonings
- Severe complications of chronic illnesses
- Sports injuries
- Traumatic injuries
Meet Your Care Team
Why Choose the Emergency Department at Monroe Carell
- Verified Level 1 pediatric trauma center
Monroe Carell has been verified as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma. We are also the third-busiest verified Level 1 pediatric trauma center in the United States. As a comprehensive regional pediatric center and recognized as a leader in pediatric trauma care, Monroe Carell is the only verified Level 1 pediatric trauma center within 200 miles of Nashville. This means we provide the highest level of care for injured children in our region.
- Expert care
Our doctors are board-certified with advanced training in emergency medicine for children.
- Fast-track clinic
Our clinic-like Fast Track setting within the Emergency Department treats children with minor illnesses or injuries more quickly. Our average room-to-discharge time is about 60 minutes. Fast Track is available Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday through Monday from 9 a.m. to midnight.
- 24-hour service
You'll have around-the-clock access to the staff and facilities at Monroe Carell. This includes specialists, operating rooms, on-site MRI and CT scanners and emergency respiratory therapy.
- Specialized training
Our emergency physicians have an additional three years of specialized training beyond their residency. Nurses receive specialized training in pediatrics including trauma care, sedations and critical care. Child life specialists are trained in child development and the unique needs of children, teens and families in the hospital. Social workers are available to assist your family with situations that arise during your child’s time in the Emergency Department.
- Rapid-response stroke care
Our rapid-response stroke protocol quickly brings together a care team including experts from Neurology, Radiology, Hematology, Critical Care and other specialties. During an emergency, patients and parents have access to some of the best pediatric stroke experts in the nation. We are one of the few hospitals in the nation with a board-certified pediatric stroke specialist and a vascular neurosurgeon with expertise in pediatric strokes.
- Sedation services
We provide advanced levels of sedation created specifically for children. Pediatric sedation helps children stay comfortable during potentially stressful or painful procedures.
