Specialized Pediatric Services
Kids First Tender Loving Care
Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children, making immediate, life-saving medical care crucial. Northridge Hospital's Richie Pediatric Trauma Center is the only facility in the San Fernando Valley that provides immediate care to infants, children and adolescents with life-threatening traumatic injuries 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.
Our Pediatric Trauma Center houses physicians with expertise in more than 20 subspecialties, which include emergency medicine, anesthesia, orthopedics and neurosurgery.
While a child is en route to the hospital, our pediatric team assembles to await the patient’s arrival. They aim to provide medical treatment within the
Platinum 30 Minutes
--- known as the first half hour after an injury that increases a child’s chance of survival.
Time for a Little More TLC
After receiving initial stabilization, the Pediatric Trauma Center’s multifaceted care continues in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Pediatrics Unit, which are staffed by pediatric critical care specialists, board-certified pediatricians, nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, speech therapists, dieticians and pediatric intensivists who are available 24/7.
The 14-bed PICU is certified by the California Children’s Services (CCS) and provides sick children with the highest level of intensive medical care.
Northridge Hospital also has a
specialized 14-bed Pediatric Unit
for children who need to be hospitalized while receiving care for an injury, surgery or illness. Designed with kids in mind, it features cheerful colors and diversions, such as a playroom, computer games and DVDs.
Since it is important to be near little ones when they’re sick, we also provide sleeping chairs for a parent to spend the night. We also feature a Child Life Program in which specialists prep young patients prior to a procedure, and prepare child visitors before seeing a sibling or adult in the hospital.
A visit from a friendly dog can be just the right medicine. While our dedicated hospital staff treats medical conditions, these four-legged friends care for our patients' souls and warm their hearts. A dose of puppy love is sometimes just what the doctor ordered.
Pets can easily invoke feelings of comfort, joy and playfulness - a natural connection between dogs and humans, especially children. Perhaps that’s why Paws That Refresh, Northridge Hospital’s pet therapy program is such a success. Accompanied by its owner-volunteer, a pet therapy dog will visit most of the medical floors, twice daily, delivering unconditional love to the bedside of our patients.
OwieBowWowie Joins Pediatric Trauma Program!
OwieBowWowie, a volunteer group, now delivers toy dogs, a.k.a. “OwieBowWowies” to children in our Pediatric Trauma Center, PICU and Pediatric Unit. The OwieBowWowies share kisses and giggles and make everyone smile (except for some parents who cry because they’re so touched by the love and support).
