Westerly Hospital Earns Highest Pediatric Emergency Care Designation from Rhode Island EMS for Children

Westerly, RI (Feb. 16, 2026) ꟷ Westerly Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, has been recognized by the Rhode Island EMS for Children (EMSC) program with its highest honor: the Pediatric Innovator designation. This prestigious status identifies Westerly Hospital as “Always Ready for Children” and highlights its exceptional preparedness, capability and commitment to caring for pediatric patients in emergency situations.

Westerly Hospital achieved a near perfect score of 98 on the rigorous Assessment of Readiness to Care (ARC) program, significantly exceeding the threshold required for top-tier recognition. Criteria for the designation include:

• Providing comprehensive emergency care for patients under age 18
• Designating pediatric emergency care coordinators 
• Established, clearly defined care pathways for children presenting to the ED
• Ongoing commitment to providing pediatric education and quality assurance feedback to both staff and EMS agencies that transport patients to the hospital

According to the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP) emergency departments that maintain strong pediatric readiness—including access to child sized equipment and supplies, staff trained in pediatric emergencies and established clinical protocols—demonstrate significantly improved outcomes for children experiencing medical or traumatic emergencies.

“The Pediatric Innovator designation reflects the extraordinary skill, training and dedication of our emergency department team,” said Nader Bahadory, DO, director of emergency medicine, Westerly Hospital.  “We are thrilled to be recognized for our expertise in caring for children when they’re most vulnerable. Our clinical and support staff are highly trained and credentialed to care for children of all ages—from newborns and toddlers to adolescents and young adults.”

Children make up over 30 million emergency department visits each year, representing 20% of all ED visits in the United States. Yet, national analyses show that approximately 80% of U.S. emergency departments are not fully prepared to treat pediatric emergencies, leading to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, or preventable harm—including an estimated 1,400 pediatric deaths annually.

Programs like Rhode Island’s EMSC initiative aim to change that. The Rhode Island EMSC program strengthens the integration of pediatric needs within local Emergency Medical Services, encourages participation in national pediatric readiness assessments and supports ongoing education for EMTs, paramedics, school nurses and emergency department staff. Pediatric readiness recognition programs nationwide help build a stronger, more reliable system of emergency care for ill and injured children.

“Achieving Pediatric Innovator status is a testament to Westerly Hospital’s unwavering commitment to high-quality pediatric emergency care,” said Katelin Ferreira, EMS for Children, program manager. “Hospitals like Westerly set the standard for what it means to be prepared for every child, every time.”

Westerly Hospital collaborates with the Rhode Island EMSC program and partner hospitals to share insights, elevate best practices and advance pediatric emergency readiness across the region.

Westerly Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a 125-bed hospital that has been providing residents of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in a community hospital setting for more than 90 years. Westerly Hospital patients receive the finest quality treatment in the following areas of care: emergency, medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory and rehabilitative services. The hospital also offers heart and vascular care, interventional pain management, wound care, pulmonary rehabilitation services, inpatient geriatric psychiatric care and comprehensive cancer care provided through the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center. All inpatient rooms are private. westerlyhospital.org