Tampa General Hospital: One of the

Caring for children:

The best of the best at Tampa General Hospital

Tampa General shines as one of the nation’s most respected pediatric trauma units

by Tampa General Hospital staff

A child is a precious gift to the world, and at TGH Children’s Hospital, our pediatric trauma doctors and nurses specialize in around-theclock emergency medicine to help every child go home with a smile.

Children coming to a hospital require unique care. From simple injuries to major trauma, TGH Children’s Hospital takes an integrated approach to addressing a child’s psychological, social and developmental mindset alongside medical treatment. "It’s comprehensive care," says Ann Blevins, Pediatric Trauma Program Coordinator at Tampa General. "It’s holistic from the moment they enter to the moment they go home."

Healing with doctors—and animals

"Pediatric trauma is far more comprehensive than people might realize," says Kristyn Carter, Pediatric Trauma/Surgery Nurse Practitioner at Tampa General Hospital. It includes specialists from various disciplines as well as support services all working in concert. "We provide a wide range of support services essential to a child’s well-being during recovery," she says. "Our team includes child life specialists, therapy dogs, schoolteachers working in a classroom for patients staying at the hospital for an extended period of time, psychologists, case managers, social workers, and pediatric occupational and physical therapists."

Airlift and advanced life support

In addition to Tampa General being a health care leader in Florida, we treat pediatric patients with severe or life-threatening injuries throughout the state. That means transporting critically ill or injured patients from 23 surrounding counties aboard our six medical helicopters equipped with the most advanced life support equipment.

TGH Children’s Hospital was the first in the state to be verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and is the only hospital in West Central Florida to hold this designation. "The ACS designation reflects our Pediatric Trauma Program’s ability to treat patients from all over Florida who need world-class trauma care,” said Michele Moran, Senior Director of Emergency Services at Tampa General. “Once a pediatric trauma patient arrives at TGH, they receive treatment in our Pediatric Emergency Department, which is staffed 24/7 with board-certified Pediatric Emergency Medicine physicians and a specialized nursing team who care for children of all ages."

TGH Children’s Hospital’s specialized care includes:

● Level I trauma center — the first in Florida to achieve verification from the American College of

Surgeons (ACS) ● Pediatric rehabilitation accredited by the Commission on

Accreditation of Rehabilitation

Facilities (CARF) — one of only three pediatric rehabilitation inpatient centers in Florida ● State-designated Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Center ● Full-service Pediatric Day

Hospital for outpatient infusions as well as procedures and radiology studies that may require sedation under the supervision of a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist ● Children’s Medical Services (CMS) — sponsored comprehensive kidney failure center ● Pediatric ICU with multiple subspecialists ● Pediatric hematology/oncology program ● Air transport services provided by Metro Aviation, Inc.