If your child needs urgent medical care, please go immediately to your nearest emergency room. If you can’t safely transport your child to the hospital, call 911 without delay. Otherwise, it’s best to talk to your child’s doctor before going to the ER. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you need to come into the office or go directly to the appropriate ER.
Emergency Department, Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
We’re here when you need us, 24/7
Boston Children's Hospital's Department of Emergency Medicine provides 24-hour care to infants, children and young adults with urgent and emergency medical, surgical and traumatic conditions, ranging from brain injuries to broken bones.
We accept all Emergency Department (ED) patients from birth through 21 years of age. Caring for 60,000 patients with emergency medical needs each year, our ED is one of the largest emergency/trauma centers in New England and the largest pediatric ED in Massachusetts. We serve as a Level I Regional Pediatric Trauma Center, and we house the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention.
Why a Pediatric Emergency Department?
True Pediatric Emergency Care extends far beyond the Emergency Department. If your child comes to Boston Children’s ED, we mobilize all our child- and family-centered resources to provide you with the fastest and best care.
Kids aren’t just small adults — they need specialized skill and care. Our Emergency Medicine specialists, acute care pediatricians and clinical specialists have advanced training, not only in emergency care, but in Pediatric Emergency Care. Whatever injury or illness brings your child to our ED, our 54 pediatric emergency medicine physicians, 25 acute care pediatricians and 76 pediatric nurses know how to help immediately.
Our X-rays and advanced imaging technologies are geared to kids. Children are much more sensitive to radiation and need specific pediatric protocols for imaging. Additionally, some children need sedation for procedures or even to stay still for special studies like an MRI or CT scan. Our specialists know exactly what doses will do the job safely.
Professionals in our many support services — nurses, child life specialists, social workers and so many more — provide comfort, resources and help for you, your child and your whole family.
Our outpatient waiting areas are designed for children. Children's programming can be viewed and plenty of toys are available for all kids to enjoy. Our treatment areas are geared towards kids, too!
If your child needs to be admitted to the hospital:
- Your child will be treated by world-ranked specialists and sub-specialists. This is particularly valuable if your child has a pre-existing complex condition.
- Boston Children's caregivers are sensitive to the physical and emotional needs of children and their families.
- The environment is cheerful and child-centered.
Can you prepare for an Emergency Department visit?
If preparing for an emergency sounds like a contradiction in terms — it isn’t! It’s actually a great idea to evaluate Emergency Departments for your child before you might need one. If an actual emergency occurs, you won’t have time to wonder; better to do your homework in advance.
A checklist. Here’s what to look for in emergency care for your child:
- Is it equipped and staffed for children’s needs?
- Are the ED doctors and nurses trained in Pediatric Emergency Care?
- Are the imaging devices and sedation doses geared for children? Do the radiologists scale their exposures based on a child’s size?
- How child-focused is the hospital’s staff? How many are trained to deliver pediatric emergency care?
- What about the hospital’s other services?
- Are there pediatric specialists and sub-specialists on staff?
- Are there accommodations made for kids’ waiting areas, treatment rooms?
- Where’s the nearest ED that offers all the above for your child?
The Division of Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center Fact Sheet is a two-page printable PDF that provides information, contact details, and highlighted statistics pertaining to the division, the Emergency Department, our network locations, clinical programs (including Trauma Center, Injury Prevention, Travel Clinic, Poison Control and Prevention Center), and research agenda.
Need emergency care, but you're not near Boston?
If your child needs emergency care closer to your home, consider going to one of our community hospital partners north, south, and west of Boston:
Beverly Hospital: 85 Herrick St., Beverly, MA 01915
978-922-3000
Milford Regional Medical Center: 14 Prospect St., Milford, MA 01757
617-355-7476 - Endocrinology
617-355-0535 - General Surgery
617-355-6058 - Gastroenterology
Norwood Hospital: 800 Washington St., Norwood, MA 02062
781-769-4000
St. Luke's Hospital: 101 Page St., New Bedford, MA 02740
508-997-1515
South Shore Hospital: 55 Fogg Road, South Weymouth, MA 02190
781-624-8000
Winchester Hospital: 41 Highland Ave., Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-9000
At our conveniently located community hospital partners, Boston Children’s physicians are on-site to care for your child. The doctor is in constant communication with Boston Children’s ED, as well as our specialists and inpatient unit. If your child needs care at our main campus in Boston, our renowned Critical Care Transport Team’s uniquely equipped ambulance is on hand to bring your child to the Boston Children's Hospital.
