Emergency - in the case of your child, it's any illness or injury that is life-threatening or needs immediate attention.

The staff at Children's Hospital understands it is stressful when your child is sick or injured and must visit our hospital. Our specially trained nurses and doctors are here to help you and your child 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Emergency Department at Children's Hospital is the busiest in Knox County, with 65,000-70,000 visits annually.

What should a patient expect during a visit to the Children's Hospital Scott M. Niswonger Emergency Department?

During your visit to the Scott M. Niswonger Emergency Department (one of the largest pediatric Emergecy Departments in the country and the largest in Tennessee), you and your child may experience some things that are unfamiliar to you. We hope this virtual visit to the Emergency Department will help answer any questions you might have and ease your fears. The following is about a fictional patient, Andrew, as he visits the Emergency Department at Children's Hospital.

Hi! My name is Andrew. My mom had to take me to the Emergency Department at Children's Hospital, because I was feeling very sick and throwing up a lot. When we came inside and signed in, the first person we saw was the triage nurse. She found out why I came to the Scott M. Niswonger Emergency Department and asked my parents a bunch of questions about other doctors I had seen and the kinds of medicine I was taking. The triage nurse measured my temperature, pulse and blood pressure. She also gave a general evaluation of my condition. This helped the nurse determine how sick I was.

When she was finished, the triage nurse told my parents that I would see a doctor soon. But sometimes children who are badly injured or even sicker than I was come to the Emergency Department, and they are treated first. The nurse said the staff would work hard to make sure that all patients would be seen as quickly as possible. And we did not have to wait too long.

While we waited, I played with some toys, and Mom read a book to me. There was also a TV to watch and vending machines, in case we got hungry or thirsty while we waited to be seen by the doctor.

In a short time, we went into a room to see the doctor. The doctor read my chart; looked in my eyes, ears and throat; and asked me some more questions about how I was feeling. He told me that I would need some medicine to get better.

A little later- When the doctor came back, he brought a prescription for the medicine for me and told my mom to make an appointment with my regular pediatrician. Then Mom and I went home, and I started to feel better in a few days. Some kids who are sicker than I was might have to stay at the hospital for a few days before they get to go home.