Phelps Hospital, part of Northwell Health, is the first and only emergency department in Westchester County to be recognized by the New York State Department of Health as an Always Ready for Children (ARC) hospital. The pediatric emergency recognition program underscores a hospital’s preparedness and commitment to providing exceptional care to children in the emergency room.
Phelps received the highest level within the ARC designation: Pediatric Innovator. To reach this level, a hospital must score above 80 on the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) assessment, identify a pediatric emergency care coordinator to ensure ongoing readiness and be willing to share best practices and resources with other hospitals.
Phelps’s ARC designation comes at a time when access to emergency pediatric care across the nation has become more limited. The latest statistics reveal that even though children account for approximately a quarter of all emergency visits in the U.S., 85%  are treated innonpediatric emergency rooms, which are often not optimally prepared to care for youngsters.
The ARC program was created in June 2023 and is managed by the EMS for Children State Partnership Programs (EMSC) with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration and the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center.
Phelps is nationally recognized for emergency care. Earlier this month, the emergency department received the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award demonstrating its commitment to quality, safety and an exceptional work environment.
Phelps Hospital, part of Northwell Health, is a full-service 218-bed acute care community hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York. With more than 1,700 employees and 1,400-plus medical staff members representing 60 medical specialties, Phelps offers one of the broadest ranges of community hospital services in Westchester County. Phelps is one of approximately 570 hospitals nationwide to achieve Magnet Recognition® status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for its commitment to nursing excellence and compassionate patient care. The hospital is supported by Northwell Health Physician Partners, a primary and specialty care medical group, with practices located on the hospital campus and in the surrounding communities.
