Riley Hospital for Children physicians are now available to see pediatric patients in the emergency room at IU Health North in Carmel during peak hours.
A Riley pediatric hospitalist has been available at all hours to help direct care for the ER’s youngest patients, and since July 1, Riley physicians and nurses have been on-site from 2 to 11 p.m. daily to treat patients up to age 18.
Dr. Sean Thompson, a Riley emergency medicine physician, said 80 percent of pediatric visits to the emergency room happen during that time frame. He said having Riley doctors who specialize in pediatrics at IU Health North should help many families in the Carmel area avoid a trip to the hospital’s main campus in downtown Indianapolis during an emergency.
“We’re excited to be there and to be able to serve the pediatric patients on the north side,” Thompson said. “We are equipped to take care of almost any pediatric need at IU Health North.”
Thompson, a Carmel resident with four children ranging in age from 2 to 9, splits his time between IU Health North and Riley Hospital for Children. He said his team’s specialized knowledge should make a trip to the emergency room a little less stressful for children and their families.
“It seems when families show up and we are present, they seem to be happy we’re there,” he said. “The response we’ve gotten from families is overwhelmingly positive.”
Learn more at rileychildrens.org/contact-and-locations/riley-hospital-for-children-at-iu-health-north.
