Don't delay emergency care


Don't delay or avoid life-saving emergency care for your little one. Avoiding an ER visit out of fear of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) can have dire consequences, especially during critical, life-threatening situations. We are following guidelines and taking several precautions so that parents can put their trust in the safety of our ERs and clinics.

Emergency room for kids in Kansas City

When your child needs immediate medical attention, they deserve fast, effective care. The HCA Midwest Health network includes 11 kid-friendly emergency rooms (ERs) with expert, compassionate providers offering advanced care and the latest technology 24/7.

We also provide the Kansas City community with a dedicated pediatric ER at Overland Park Regional Medical Center with pediatric emergency specialists and technology and amenities designed to make children and their families feel safe and comfortable.

If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

Our kid-friendly ERs

We provide expert, full-service emergency care to children of all ages in each of our 11 ERs. Our staff and board-certified physicians are specially trained to provide families with the highest quality healthcare.

We know that no one knows a child better than their parents and caregivers. We also understand that each child is unique. At all of our ERs, we work to make each child's visit as comfortable as possible. We also partner with families so that each child can receive the best care possible.

All of our ERs exceed the national average score for pediatric emergency readiness set by the National Pediatric Readiness Project. This means that all of our ERs have the resources that children need during emergencies.

An emergency room just for kids

We believe children require special care, especially during emergencies. At Overland Park Regional Medical Center, we offer a dedicated pediatric ER along with pediatric specialty care and pediatric surgery.

Some of the services our pediatric ER provides include:

  • A playroom and unique amenities to make children feel comfortable
  • Board-certified pediatricians and pediatric specialists trained in emergency medicine
  • Direct access to one of the few pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Johnson County if advanced care is needed
  • Laboratory testing dedicated to pediatric patients
  • On-site pediatric surgeons and specialists
  • Skilled emergency nurses and pediatric support specialists
  • State of the art, child-sized equipment and technology
For more information about our pediatric ER, call (913) 541-5000.

When to visit a pediatric ER

Kids get sick for many reasons. They often suffer cuts and scrapes just playing at the park. Sometimes it can be challenging to determine if an illness or injury warrants a visit to the ER.

Some symptoms and conditions that may require pediatric emergency care include:

  • Alcohol or drug overdoses
  • Allergic reactions
  • Abdominal pain, such as:
    • Pain that increases when the stomach is pressed
    • When the stomach feels hard or tender to the touch
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Broken bones
  • Burns
  • Chest pain
  • Coughing that is also accompanied by:
    • A raspy or whooping sound while inhaling
    • A whistling or high-pitched sound while exhaling
    • Vomiting up blood
  • Deep wounds and heavy bleeding
  • Earaches that are also accompanied by:
    • Blood or pus draining from the ear
    • Fever
    • Severe pain lasting longer than 48 hours
  • Fevers
    • In children three months old or younger of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • In children three months old to three years old of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • In children three years old or older of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for more than two days
  • Fainting and seizures
  • Headaches that are also accompanied by:
    • Confusion
    • Dizziness
    • Fever
    • Slurred speech
    • Weakness
  • Head injuries and concussions
  • Inhalation of smoke or toxic fumes
  • Persistent vomiting, diarrhea and/or dehydration
  • Poisoning
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Throat issues that are also accompanied by:
    • A fever
    • A hardening or lump in the throat
    • Difficulty swallowing or breathing

Our pediatric intensive care services

Meeting each child's emergency needs is important to us. If hospitalization is necessary, we admit children to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), located at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. At our PICU, children receive round-the-clock care from our child-focused critical care specialists and support staff.

Our supportive child life specialists

We know a child's emergency room visit may be the first time they visit a hospital. The ER can be a frightening place for a child and their family, which is why our child life specialists at our pediatric ER and PICU offer compassionate care, guidance and support.

Our child life specialists work directly with kids to ease their fears about their condition, hospital visits and medical treatment. Our specialists also work closely with parents and caregivers to keep families informed and involved in their child's condition and treatment.

ER wait times

In an emergency, you want to know that you can receive high-quality services quickly. At HCA Midwest, we broadcast our average ER wait times as part of our commitment to our community and to help you make the best decision on where to receive care.