Traditionally, Illinois defines pediatric patients as age 15 and under, so pediatric trauma centers are certified to treat patients of that age. The University of Chicago Medicine is taking steps to raise Comer Children’s trauma center age limit to include 16- and 17-year-olds. Earlier this year, University of Chicago Medicine extended the age of patients treated at Comer Children’s emergency room to include 16- and 17-year-olds as well.
“We decided that expanding trauma care to all minor children would help provide an important service to a particularly vulnerable part of our community,” Sharon O’Keefe, president of the University of Chicago Medical Center, said.
To do so, the system will submit paperwork to the Illinois Department of Public Health and hold meetings with stakeholders.
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