Children's Hospital
What is a children’s hospital?
A children’s hospital is a hospital that offers services to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Most children's hospitals can serve people from birth up to the age of 21.
Children’s hospitals are staffed by professionals trained in pediatric medicine, including:
- Pediatricians
- Surgeons
- Intensive care specialists
- Anesthetists
These facilities place a greater emphasis on the psychosocial support of children and their families. Children’s hospitals also serve as regional centers for research and preventive care.
Why are children’s hospitals important?
Children’s hospitals are important medical facilities because they do not treat children as “small adults” but instead focus on their unique anatomy, physiology, and health conditions. Children’s hospitals also place a greater emphasis on involving families in the healthcare process.
A crucial component of children’s hospitals regards educating family practice physicians, pediatricians, social workers, nurses, and other future caregivers of children about pediatric care.
Research is also a common practice in children’s hospitals, allowing scientists to find life-saving discoveries and treatments that, while primarily aimed at children, can also benefit adults.