Committed to the physical and mental health of your child, Meriter Hospital offers a comprehensive program of services for children, from birth to adolescence. Our specialized professional staff offers family-centered care in a friendly atmosphere. We encourage parents to participate in their child's care as much as possible.

• Meriter Pediatric Center, scheduled to open in Spring 2010, will consolidate pediatric care into a single unit adjacent to the Emergency Services Department. This center will provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for pediatric emergencies as well as inpatients, outpatients and patients requiring observation. A team of Pediatric Hospitalists, who are specifically trained in handling children's health care needs, will work closely with your child's pediatrician to ensure the highest quality of care.
   
• Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is the best place for premature or sick newborns to receive the advanced care they need. Designated as a Level III NICU, we are recognized as a premier regional center for excellence in high-risk neonatal care.
     
• Behavioral and Addiction Services
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program provides sensitive, responsive and innovative treatment for youths with psychiatric disorders.
  • NewStart offers confidential, comprehensive caring treatment to adolescents suffering from chemical dependency.
  
  
• Outpatient Therapies helps children attain their full potential in all facets of life.
  • Feeding and Swallowing
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech & Language
  
  
• Child Protection including the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program provides services to sexual assault victims. It is the only program of its kind in Dane County, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hospital Tours

Individual tours are given to children and parents who have a planned admission. The tour will show you and your child what to expect when you come to the hospital.

If possible, the best time for a tour is within one week of the admission, depending on the age of the child. If you would like to arrange for a tour, please call one of our pediatric nurses at 608.417.6202.

Community Outreach

We know that a visit to the hospital may be a frightening experience for a child. For that reason, we've developed a program called ER Kid's Club. In coordination with area daycare centers and kindergartens, our Emergency Services nurses visit children with a fun presentation so they will feel more secure about what happens in an ER. They also teach them key safety information.

Baby Friendly Hospital Designation

Meriter Hospital is recognized as a Baby-Friendly birth facility through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. This initiative is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize facilities that provide optimal levels of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

9/24/2009