Stroger Hospital in Chicago plans to merge its pediatric, adult emergency rooms to adapt to a lower volume of pediatric case, but the plan is meeting resistance from doctors, according to an article on The Chicago Tribune website.
"It's part of the ongoing organic nature and good management of space and facilities and patient care that you are constantly in a state of dynamism where you're trying to flow services to where you need them the most," said Dr. Jay Shannon, chief executive of the county health system.
According to the doctors, a single emergency department would subject children to long waits and the sometimes chaotic atmosphere of the adult ER.
Stroger also plans to consolidate the 40-bed inpatient pediatric unit with the 10-bed pediatric intensive care unit.