PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) has been recognized as an Always Ready for Kids (ARK) facility by West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services.
ARK recognizes dedication to pediatric preparedness and commitment to ensuring that children facing medical emergencies receive the highest quality of care. PCH is one of the first hospitals in West Virginia to achieve this recognition; the Princeton emergency department is number eight and the Bluefield emergency department is number 9.
The ARK program aligns the state of West Virginia with the National Emergency Medical Services for Children initiative, which works to ensure that all children—regardless of location—have access to specialized, high-quality emergency care.
To earn ARK recognition, PCH highlighted numerous features of its pediatric emergency care, including:
- Advanced staff training to better handle pediatric medical and trauma emergencies.
- Regular chart reviews to assess and improve pediatric care protocols.
- Acquisition of pediatric-sized medical equipment and supplies to meet the unique needs of young patients.
- Installation of specialized pediatric emergency cabinets, ensuring quick access to critical supplies.
“As the number of pediatric patients we serve continues to grow, this recognition reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality emergency care to children in our community,” said Dr. Wes Childers, PCH emercency department chief medical officer. “Achieving ARK designation reflects the hard work of our entire team and our dedication to ensuring that families can trust us in times of crisis.”
In 2024, the PCH emergency departments in Princeton and Bluefield treated 8,649 pediatric patients. A pediatric patient is one who is less than 18 years old.
More information about Always Ready for Kids is available here.
