Sanford to open pediatric emergency department in new year

Dec. 9, 2025

Sanford Heath is getting ready to open its new pediatric emergency department.

It’s located in 9,000 square feet of remodeled space within the existing emergency department, so patients should continue to go to the ER on the main campus of Sanford USD Medical Center as they always have.

“This is the state’s first and only dedicated pediatric emergency department and will be fully equipped with technology and equipment specifically designed for kids,” said Dana Heidebrink, vice president of operations, emergency and trauma services at Sanford Health.

The new space includes a dedicated pediatric triage area, one additional pediatric trauma room, nine pediatric emergency exam rooms and two exam rooms designed with safety features to care for children during behavioral health emergencies.

The design carries through the same look as the Sanford Children’s Hospital castle. It is intended to create “positive distraction,” Heidebrink said, with “child-friendly, nature-based wall graphics and personalized in-room displays.”

Over the past five years, more than 32,000 kids have been cared for at the Sanford emergency department, including hundreds of pediatric trauma cases.

“All children will (now) be cared for in this dedicated space,” Heidebrink said.

The first patients will be seen Jan. 6. The new space is designed to address both acute, routine pediatric problems such as asthma attacks and dehydration as well as critical illness and injury.

Sanford employs four pediatric emergency medicine physicians and offers access to more than 35 pediatric specialities.

“We also have a number of specifically trained pediatric emergency nurses, which will have a profound positive influence on the children who visit us,” said Dr. Donald Ellis, a pediatric emergency physician.

“Not only do we have pediatric emergency physicians and nursing staff, we are regularly supported by child life specialists — members of the health care team whose sole function is help minimize stress for patients and families during their visits,” Ellis said. “Our goal for the new pediatric emergency department is to provide world-class care for every child who enters our doors, and we are excited to work with the community to bring this to reality.”

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