The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital

Emergency Care

The Maine Medical Center Emergency Department is Maine's only Pediatric Emergency Department—a unique 10-bed unit that provides additional space to care specifically for children. Under the direction of Dr. Nathan Mick, trained in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, the goal of this unique environment is to make your child's visit prompt and efficient while receiving the best possible care.

The Pediatric Emergency Department at BBCH handles nearly 15,000 patient visits a year—a volume that translates into a depth of experience that is unmatched in Maine. Our pediatric emergency medicine physicians also remain on the leading edge of their specialty through their involvement in research and teaching.

The pediatric waiting room is a separate child-friendly waiting room in the ED to shelter children from the general ED population. Designed with kids in mind, the area has games, toys and televisions which provide distractions for a more comfortable visit. Each private pediatric ED exam room is outfitted with the most advanced, child-sized medical equipment as well as kid-friendly amenities. Parents are welcome at their child’s bedside at all times and are included in all treatment decisions.

Because there’s more than one type of emergency, we also offer more than one place for emergency care. For minor injuries or illnesses that aren't life threatening yet require medical attention on the same day, Maine Medical Center Urgent Care Plus—located on our Brighton campus—is open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily and provides urgent care services for children and adults from physicians and nurses specially trained in emergency medicine.

What should I do if my child swallows marijuana?

If you think a child has swallowed marijuana, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for fast advice. A poison specialist will tell you whether you need to take the child to the hospital.

For fast, efficient evaluation of your child, the Pediatric ED has an on-site radiology suite with the most advanced diagnostic imaging technology available in emergency medicine today, including bedside ultrasound, light-speed CT scanning and digital radiography (x-rays). Laboratory specimens are transported to the clinical laboratory via a pneumatic tube system, which allows for “stat” lab results to be returned in 10 to 20 minutes, and routine laboratory evaluation turnaround time of less than one hour.

Should your child need surgery or consultation from a specialist, the range of treatment resources available at BBCH reflects our standing as Maine’s premier pediatric hospital. Virtually every pediatric sub specialty is represented here, giving you close-to-home access to an unparalleled depth and breadth of healthcare expertise for your child.

Contact Us

Maine Medical Center Emergency Department
Phone: 207-662-2381
22 Bramhall Street
Portland, ME 04102