Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital will expand psychiatric services program

More than $120,000 was raised to expand psychiatric services at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital at last week’s 12th annual Kids at Heart lunch.

“Children in need of psychiatric treatment often enter the hospital through the Emergency Department,” said Joyce M. Cameron, chief development officer for Providence Health Care Foundation. “These kids can sometimes end up in the ED for several days while they wait for a psychiatry bed to become available.”

The new Pediatric Crisis Support Program will ensure that children in crisis receive the help they need the minute they walk through the doors of the emergency department – even if the pediatric psychiatry beds are full.

Six individuals and one organization received awards at the Feb. 28 lunch recognizing their work with children and families. The award winners were:

Pam Austin, Director of the Indian Education Program, Spokane Falls Community College

Rebecca Bates, Passages Family Support

Freda Gandy, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center

Dr. Michelle Messer, Partners With Families & Children

Rosey Thurman, TeamChild

Rosauers Supermarkets

Long-time Spokane pediatrician Dr. A. Christopher Olson was also recognized for his work at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.