Pediatric emergency care at Dell Children's
Our ERs at Dell Children's and Ascension Seton deliver 24/7 emergency care for children with serious illness and injury. We listen to quickly understand your child’s health needs. Advanced imaging may be used to help diagnose your child’s condition. Specially trained care teams provide child-friendly diagnostics, such as X-ray, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans. Then, we provide care that’s right for your child. Our board-certified emergency care doctors, nurses and care teams are trained in pediatric emergency protocols and deliver advanced lifesaving care – so your child has the right care at the right time.
If your child needs the highest level of trauma care, your family is connected to the Level I Trauma Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Austin.
Emergency care for serious illness and injuries
Don't delay getting the emergency care your child needs. If you notice your child’s illness becoming more severe or if your child has a serious injury, it may be time to take your child to the ER.
Signs that your child needs emergency care include:
- Trouble breathing
- Blue face and lips or pale coloring
- Chest pain
- Seizure
- Major injury or broken bone
- Severe allergic reaction
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- High fever
- Animal bite
- Other serious illness or injury
If your child has a severe illness or injury and needs to stay in the hospital, your child may be transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Austin. The PICU provides the highest level of care within the hospital – with highly experienced critical care doctors, nurses and care teams that care for your child’s advanced needs. This may include diagnosis, monitoring and delivery of specialized medications and treatments.
When should I take my child to the emergency room?
Our ERs at Dell Children’s and Ascension sites of care are open 24/7, caring for major or life-threatening illness or injury. If your child is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911. But if you are unsure if your child needs emergency care – or don't know when or where to go – call our care navigation hotline to find the location or site of care that's right for your family. Our care navigation hotline has medical professionals available 24/7 who can help you determine when and where to go, at no cost to you.
Connected to the most pediatric specialty care in Central Texas
Your child’s care doesn’t end when your family leaves the ER. Before your child leaves, we connect you with the right specialists and follow-up care at Dell Children’s or with a Dell Children’s pediatrician, if needed. Care might include imaging, pharmacy, pediatric rehabilitation, pediatric heart care, pediatric neurology, pediatric surgery, pediatric cancer care, pediatric orthopedic care and more. Our goal is to make sure your child and family are connected to all the services you will need to help your child recover and get back to their daily life.
If your child is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.