The Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Emergency Department successfully completed the Florida Department of Health review process and has successfully achieved Pediatric Trauma Center reverification. Attaining this revalidation demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to providing life-saving care to children within the South Florida community and beyond.
This reverification allows Nicklaus Children’s to continue operating as a Pediatric Trauma Center through June 30, 2027. The hospital was also verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee in 2018, making Nicklaus Children’s the only hospital in South Florida to achieve Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center verification at the time.
“This revalidation is a testament to our dedicated doctors, nurses and support staff who work tirelessly to ensure that every child brought into our trauma center receives world-class pediatric care,” said Dr. Leopoldo Malvezzi, pediatric surgeon and Director of Trauma Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Perry Ann Reed, President, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Nicklaus Children’s Health System, said, “This recognition represents more than just our ability to adhere to the statues and rules governing trauma centers, it validates the way in which our staff coordinates and supports pediatric trauma cases, always putting the needs of patients and families first.”
The Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Emergency Department is one of only two freestanding pediatric trauma centers in the state of Florida and the only freestanding trauma center in South Florida The Trauma Center currently includes four trauma treatment bays within the Emergency Department capable of treating up to eight traumatically injured patients and serves children from birth to under 16 years of age, with outstanding outcomes.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South
Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately
850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs
routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The
hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional
honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.