CMC Earns Advanced Pediatric Ready Emergency Department Accreditation
When your child needs emergency care, every second counts — and so does every piece of equipment, every trained nurse, and every policy in place before you walk through the door. Conway Medical Center (CMC) has earned recognition for exactly that level of preparation.
CMC has been officially accredited as an Advanced Pediatric Ready Emergency Department through the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The accreditation is valid for the next three years and reflects a standard of care that CMC has been working toward for nearly two years.
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What Is Pediatric Readiness Accreditation?
The National Pediatric Readiness Project is a nationwide initiative that helps emergency departments improve the quality of care they deliver to children. Led by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program, the NPRP provides hospitals with assessment tools and resources to identify and close gaps in pediatric emergency care.
Earning the Advanced Pediatric Ready designation means CMC has met rigorous standards across staffing, training, equipment, protocols, and patient facilities — all tailored to the unique physical and developmental needs of children.
While specialized children’s hospitals exist, approximately 80 percent of pediatric emergency cases are treated at general emergency departments like CMC’s. That makes readiness at community hospitals not just important — it’s essential.
How CMC Earned the Designation
The accreditation process involved a comprehensive site survey that touched nearly every department in the hospital. CMC’s team reviewed and updated policies, audited equipment across all pediatric size ranges, and worked with departments including radiology, pharmacy, and lab to ensure a cohesive approach to pediatric care.
“Pretty much everybody in this hospital was involved in this process,” said Maile Swanson, RN, CMC’s Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator. “When we had involvement from radiology and pharmacy, it was just nice to see everybody in the hospital working together for a common goal.”
The survey team conducted a full walkthrough of the hospital — visiting the pharmacy, reviewing the helipad, examining equipment, and pulling charts to evaluate nursing performance and documentation.
CMC’s Emergency Department cares for approximately 8,000 pediatric patients each year. If your child needs emergency care, our team is ready. Learn more about CMC’s Emergency Services.
Why Pediatric Readiness Matters in Our Community
Children are not simply small adults. Their vital signs, physiological responses, and developmental needs require a different approach — and the stakes are high when emergency response isn’t adapted accordingly.
“As everybody knows, we don’t really have a pediatric-dedicated hospital close by,” Swanson said. “The closest one is about two hours away. So for us to be pediatric ready, it just means we’re way more competent and capable to take care of our pediatric patients — and everybody’s way more comfortable when they walk in the door.”
The data reinforces this. According to CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Richardson, emergency departments with high pediatric readiness scores have been linked to a 76 percent lower mortality rate for critically ill children and a 60 percent lower mortality rate for injured children.
“By achieving Advanced Pediatric Ready Emergency Department accreditation and investing in specialized pediatric spaces, Conway Medical Center continues to strengthen its ability to provide high-quality emergency care for the region’s youngest patients when they need it most,” Dr. Richardson said.
What’s Changed for Young Patients and Families
One of the most visible outcomes of CMC’s accreditation work is a refreshed environment designed with children in mind. CMC has introduced a new children’s waiting area and a dedicated pediatric emergency department clinical space, creating a more welcoming atmosphere for young patients and their caregivers.
The children’s waiting area — made possible through the support of the CMC Foundation — includes child-sized furniture, coloring stations, and toy boxes. The impact was immediate.
“The second that the couch got put down that day, there was a little one on it within 30 seconds,” Swanson shared. “I see kids using it all day, every day — and you can tell the parents are a little bit more comfortable in that area.”
Behind the scenes, the clinical changes are just as meaningful. CMC expanded its pediatric equipment inventory to include properly sized supplies for patients of every age and body type — from blood pressure cuffs and heart monitors to smaller IV lines, arm boards, and nasal swabs. The department also acquired a new Panda warmer, a piece of equipment that monitors vitals, provides warmth, and supports the care of newborns and infants.
“When I have these patients, I know that I have what I need to take care of them,” Swanson said. “And I think that comfortability within our nurses is making the parents inevitably more comfortable as well.”
The Nurses and Staff Behind the Work
“When people come into the emergency department, it’s normally one of the worst days of their lives — especially when you’re bringing in your child,” Swanson said. “It adds a level of uncertainty and scariness to the situation. So when you have four or five nurses who jump in to help and they already know their assigned roles and where the equipment is and what the game plan is, it makes a positive difference.”
As Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator, Swanson plays a central role in maintaining that readiness day in and day out. In addition to working as an ER nurse, she oversees pediatric equipment inventory, conducts chart audits for all pediatric visits — from traumas to common colds — and ensures the department continually meets established standards.
The team has completed multiple competencies focused on recognizing early warning signs in children, a critical skill given how quickly pediatric patients can change status.
“They are normally the quickest to look okay — and then all of a sudden, they’re not okay,” Swanson explained. “So really, early education and early intervention has been our biggest goal. And I’m happy to say everybody’s been doing really well with that.”
Our emergency team is trained, equipped, and ready for your child. For non-life-threatening situations, consider visiting CMC Pediatrics. For emergencies, go directly to our Emergency Department or call 911.
How You Can Support Pediatric Care at CMC
The children’s waiting area furniture was purchased through a generous gift to the CMC Foundation — a direct investment in the comfort and care of the youngest members of our community.
“First, thank you so much,” Swanson said to CMC Foundation donors. “That was the biggest thing. When I found out we were getting those couches and everything, I was ecstatic. It has really been a game changer for our pediatric patients.”
To learn more about supporting programs like this through the CMC Foundation, visit cmcfoundationsc.com.
Key Takeaways
- Conway Medical Center has earned Advanced Pediatric Ready Emergency Department accreditation through the National Pediatric Readiness Project.
- The two-year accreditation process involved hospital-wide participation and improvements to equipment, policies, staffing, and training.
- CMC’s Emergency Department sees approximately 8,000 pediatric patients per year.
- High pediatric readiness is associated with a 76% lower mortality rate for critically ill children and a 60% lower mortality rate for injured children.
- CMC has opened a new children’s waiting area and dedicated pediatric clinical space, made possible in part by the CMC Foundation.
- CMC Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator Maile Swanson, RN, leads ongoing chart audits, equipment oversight, and staff education to sustain this standard of care.
References
- National Pediatric Readiness Project: emscimprovement.org
- Health Resources and Services Administration – Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC): mchb.hrsa.gov
- South Carolina Department of Public Health: scdhec.gov
