Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
Expands Hours for Pediatric Emergency Department

Winfield, IL – The pediatric emergency department (ED) at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is now open on weekend mornings. The pediatric ED has extended its hours to 9 am – midnight, seven days a week.

According to Arie Habis, MD, medical director of the pediatric emergency department at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, weekends are often prime time for families to need access to pediatric emergency services for a variety of reasons.

“We can now provide patients with emergent pediatric care earlier in the day rather than having them wait until noon for a pediatric emergency specialist. Earlier access to the pediatric emergency department also eases traffic to the main emergency department, lowering wait times. This ensures children and adolescents receive the help they need faster.”

When unsure if the situation warrants emergent care, Dr. Habis recommends touching base with a primary care physician to determine whether to bring a child to the pediatric emergency department. “If children are in distress, not eating or drinking, or experiencing an urgent issue where they can’t be seen by their pediatrician in a timely fashion, they should come to the pediatric emergency department.”

As a Level II Trauma Center, Central DuPage Hospital’s emergency and pediatric emergency departments provide comprehensive trauma care and 24-hour availability to a variety of specialties. The pediatric emergency department is staffed by pediatric emergency medicine physicians from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

“The extension of the pediatric emergency department’s hours is a reflection of Central DuPage Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital’s dedication to pediatric care,” said Dr. Habis. “Our dual-boarded pediatric emergency doctors, pediatric nurse practitioners and pediatric specialized nurses are committed to providing the best care to children in the community when they come through our doors.”
For more information about the pediatric emergency department at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, visit nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/pediatrics/pediatric-emergency-department. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.