PALO ALTO, Calif-- Bernard Dannenberg, MD, has been appointed the first Davies Family Endowed Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and the Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Dannenberg's arrival, coupled with an upcoming major renovation of the emergency department, marks the development by Packard Hospital of a pediatric emergency program within Stanford Hospital's emergency department.

The two hospitals currently share emergency staff and facilities and in 2003 treated more than 38,000 patients, 10,000 of whom were children. That number is expected to grow.
 
"This is a major step in the evolution of pediatric emergency medical care for children in our community," said Christopher Dawes, President and CEO of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. "Dr. Dannenberg has excellent experience in what has become a highly-specialized field."
 
"We know that treating children can be different from treating adults," said Dannenberg. "Children needing emergency care are often frightened and their families are stressed. There's lots of anxiety. Creating a child-friendly environment that eases their fears will allow us to better treat these patients."
 
Dr. Dannenberg has the unusual distinction of having completed two residencies, one in pediatric medicine and another in emergency medicine. He is board-certified in pediatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatric emergency medicine. He most recently served as assistant professor of emergency medicine and residency director of pediatric emergency medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Los Angeles.
 
In his new position at Packard Hospital, Dr. Dannenberg and a team of pediatric emergency medicine specialists will be creating a new, multi-disciplinary standard of pediatric emergency care for the community.
 
"A pediatric nurse educator is already on-board and soon we will be adding two pediatric emergency medicine specialists, a pediatric social worker, and a child life specialist," said Dannenberg. "We will also be constructing a child-friendly waiting area with toys, games and video, along with seven treatment rooms that reflect the kid-friendly design Packard Hospital is known for. Our medical equipment will come in various sizes to fit children of all ages." Much of the funding for these and other enhancements is coming from private community support.
 
"What we are creating is an atmosphere that is physically and emotionally comforting for children," said Dannenberg. "It's an environment that will be managed and organized to encourage maximum care as we try to minimize length of stay."
 
"All of us who work in emergency medicine are thrilled about what this means for kids and their families," said Robert Norris, MD, Stanford Hospital emergency medicine chief and associate professor of surgery. "This new department will also enable us to advance the research and teaching of pediatric emergency medicine through training programs and fellowships."
 
Dr. Dannenberg received his medical degree from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. He completed his first residency in pediatric medicine at the University of California, Irvine, and then concluded a second residency in emergency medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Dannenberg has held attending positions at hospitals in the Los Angeles area and at the Medical College of Virginia.
 
He is both a member of and fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians. In addition, he is also an instructor for Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) by the American College of Surgeons. His research interests include prompt assessment and emergency management of pediatric seizure disorders, the use of procedural sedation to minimize pain and discomfort during painful procedures, and the use of pulse oximetry in emergency discharge decision-making.
 
About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 256-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health-care programs and services -- from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. To learn more about Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, please visit our Web site at www.lpch.org.