Oaklawn accepts child patients

Oaklawn does admit children of all ages for many conditions. 

"We are not a 'Children's Hospital' that specializes in high-risk pediatric cases. When we run into those cases we stabilize the patient and make immediate arrangements to transfer to a tertiary care facility (such as they have in Kalamazoo or Ann Arbor). But for non-critical childhood ailments where hospitalization is called for, we do admit young children and have beautiful new pediatric rooms that are designed to provide space for a parent to stay overnight, should conditions allow," said Marketing and Public Relations Director Dan Stulberg.

His comments are in response to an announcement this week that Battle Creek Health System is not admitting children under the age of eight due to a shortage of pediatric nurses.

"We do not have pediatricians on staff, but Oaklawn/Marshall physicians see sick children virtually every day and have taken additional training in the care of pediatric patients. Our Emergency nurses have Emergency Nurse Pediatric Certification and we have 20 RNs with PALS training (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)."

 In short, we admit pediatric patients that we feel certain we can meet all of their healthcare needs. Cases that require pediatric specialists are transferred.