The completion of the extension project at Hospiten Estepona has made it possible to optimize the medical care and assistance service for children. On the one hand, thanks to the enlargement and modernization of the hospital, the Pediatric Emergency Department has been put into operation; on the other, the Pediatrics Unit has been relocated in order to offer more extensive and higher quality care to the families who place their trust in Hospiten Estepona.

"The expansion of the pediatric area at Hospiten Estepona is a crucial step forward in child care on the Costa del Sol, where more than 20,000 children and adolescents live and the child population accounts for 15% of the total in the province of Malaga," said the Medical Director of Hospiten Estepona, Dr. José Carlos Salas.

The Pediatric Emergency Department, which currently operates from 9:00 to 21:00 hours with plans to extend its service to 24 hours, was activated at the beginning of this year. The balance in terms of care activity data has been very positive, making mothers and fathers choose this center, which offers an alternative circuit to the adult Emergency Room, guaranteeing a friendlier and more suitable environment for children. The Pediatric Emergency Room has a waiting room, a quick consultation room next to the triage room and two pediatric boxes.

As for the Outpatient area, the pediatric consultations have been relocated closer to the Pediatric Emergency Room, creating a direct link between the two services. In addition, the number of consultations has been increased from two to three, with a team specialized in the care of minors.

Likewise, the number of medical specialists in the Pediatrics Area has been increased, incorporating professionals with wide experience and knowledge in the integral care of healthy and sick children.

In the Outpatient Department (CCEE), three key aspects stand out: immediacy of care, without the need for waiting lists; immediate access to complementary tests, which speeds up diagnosis and treatment; and continuity of care, since the child is followed by the same specialist who previously treated him or her.

Pediatric emergencies represent between 20-25% of all hospital emergencies and the most frequent reasons for consultation are respiratory infections (30-35%), digestive disorders (15-20%) and minor trauma. In addition, up to 7-10% of children have some degree of neurodevelopmental disorder, with prevalences of around 5-7% for ADHD and 1% for ASD.

As a novelty in the Outpatient Clinic (CCEE), the Neurodevelopment Clinic has been set up, directed by Dr. Gloria Colli, a specialist in Pediatrics and Pediatric Psychology. This service is essential to assist children when the family, school or professionals detect any difficulty in development, or in cases with risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), low birth weight, infections during pregnancy or perinatal problems.

"The aim is to detect neurodevelopmental disorders early so that we can intervene as soon as possible to ensure the best prognosis," says Dr. Gloria Colli.

The most frequent reasons for consultation in pediatrics include a wide variety of difficulties related to the child's growth and adaptation. These include sleep problems, such as insomnia, nightmares or night terrors; feeding disorders; behavioral disturbances and tantrums; delayed sphincter control (enuresis or encopresis); language delay; school difficulties; attention and hyperactivity problems; as well as warning signs of autism, including high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome. Intellectual disability and, at the other extreme, high abilities are also reasons for consultation.

With the opening of the Pediatric Emergency Department, more outpatient consultations and the new Neurodevelopment Unit, Hospiten Estepona reinforces early detection and continuity of care, directly improving the quality of life of children and their families.

This article is an English translation generated with Al from the original Spanish content. While we review content for clarity, the information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be  considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment