As parents of three active boys, Jacksonville native Demeca Davis has lost track of how many trips she and her husband have made to the emergency room over the last several years. From falls, breaks, sports injuries, and ear infections, Marvin, Mason, Maddox and their mom and dad have the routine down pat. However, the anxiety that comes with each trip for emergency care has subsided somewhat because the Davis family knows from experience that despite the reason for their visit to a Wolfson Children’s ER, they will receive the best pediatric care possible at the region’s only children’s hospital-affiliated emergency centers.
“I have three boys, three different ages so we’ve been there more times than I can count,” said Davis. “What I can count is how many times I’ve been to other ERs – once. After that experience, unless we are out of town, we learned quickly to head straight to Wolfson!”
When her oldest son Marvin, 16, was in first grade, a fall from the monkey bars resulted in a broken arm. He also suffered from multiple ear infections that ultimately required the removal of his tonsils and adenoids, and another surgery for ear tubes. More into computers and electronics than sports – although he runs on the cross country and track teams for his high school – Marvin is less accident-prone than his younger brothers, specifically Mason.
Fifth grader Mason is all about sports and being outdoors. Whether he’s covering one of three positions for the Oakleaf Marlins baseball team, dribbling the basketball up the court or playing football, he is always on the go – and the family’s most likely candidate for the ER.
“Mason has been hit by a baseball at practice, fallen in the bathtub and bumped his head, and tumbled off a go-cart,” said Davis. “For some reason with him, accidents just happen.”
And then there’s four-year-old Maddox, who in addition to having chronic ear infections, has also been through the ER after falling out of a parked car and hitting his head (brother Marvin opened the door while Maddox was inside leaning on it). Davis said that time, the family experienced the assistance of a Child Life specialist who came and sat with Maddox with an iPad and played songs for him to calm his fears while he waited for a CT scan, and to have his laceration closed. She said she really appreciated the visit because it not only distracted Maddox, but helped calm her down as well.
“I tell everyone who will listen: if you want to go where your kids are going to have the best care and experience no matter the injury or illness, Wolfson is definitely the place!” she said. “We’ve had a great experience every time.”
More than one Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center location to choose from
The Davises live on the Westside so for them, heading to the Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center downtown is the closest. But families in Clay County and the Southside now have a Wolfson Children’s ER close by, too – at Baptist Clay Medical Campus in Fleming Island, and a new location opening in April at the St. Johns Town Center. A third free-standing Wolfson Children’s ER will be seeing patients on the Northside by the end of the year on Dunn Avenue.
Why go to a Wolfson Children’s ER? Anthony Pohlgeers, MD, pediatric emergency physician for Wolfson Children’s Emergency Centers, said it’s because the physicians and nurses have specialized training in pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. Our centers also have access to pediatric radiologists from Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, who are available 24/7 to read and interpret imaging scans, and Wolfson Children’s Hospital pediatric pharmacists to provide consultation regarding the safety and proper dosing of medication for children.
“We are experienced in recognizing the children who need to be seen quickly because we can recognize the nuances of a child’s condition and provide the appropriate care,” Dr. Pohlgeers said. “Not all ERs are experienced enough or equipped to do that.”
Our Locations
Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center in Jacksonville
Located on Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville/Wolfson Children’s campus
800 Prudential Drive • Jacksonville, FL 32207
Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center at Clay
1771 Baptist Clay Drive • Fleming Island, FL 32003
Baptist Health/Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center at St. Johns Town Center
4085 Town Center Parkway • Jacksonville, FL 32246
(Pediatric and adult emergency medicine)
