Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Earns Pediatric Readiness Designation from Georgia Department of Public Health

ATLANTA (April 21, 2026) - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) for its commitment to providing specialized emergency care for children, earning Pediatric Readiness designations across all three hospitals in its system: Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Hughes Spalding and Scottish Rite.

Scottish Rite and Arthur M. Blank Hospitals have been designated as Level I Pediatric Readiness Centers, the highest level of recognition, and are the first hospitals in Georgia to achieve this designation.

"This recognition from DPH reflects our system wide commitment to ensuring children receive the specialized care they need in emergency situations," said Laura Jones, Vice President of Emergency Services, Children's. "We are proud that all our hospitals are equipped and prepared to provide the highest level of care for pediatric patients."

Scottish Rite Hospital earned its Level I designation with surveyors highlighting a strong commitment to performance improvement, advanced training and innovative programs that support quality pediatric care. Recognized initiatives include its PICU simulation, a robust child fatality review process and a strong trauma video review process.

Arthur M. Blank Hospital also earned a Level I designation with surveyors noting its focus on performance improvement and programs designed to enhance patient safety and outcomes. Specific recognized efforts include the CPR Coach, Pediatric Trauma Specialist, Inpatient Watcher Program and Critical Care Outreach Team.

Hughes Spalding Hospital has been designated as a Level II Pediatric Readiness Center, with surveyors recognizing its strong community presence and impactful programs such as Safe Sleep and Youth Suicide Prevention initiative, a program to help educate caregivers on how to prevent impulsive suicide attempts. The hospital was also recognized for its adaptability in flexing up alternative spaces during surges and high-volume periods.

Children's is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country with more than 1.2 million patient visits a year. Children's is ranked No. 1 in the nation for pediatric emergency department visits and No. 2 in the nation for pediatric surgical procedures. These designations reflect Children's ability to effectively assess, stabilize and treat pediatric patients in emergency situations, as well as coordinate system-wide efforts to ensure children receive age-appropriate care, equipment and protocols tailored to their unique needs.