South Health Campus - Children's Emergency

About South Health Campus - Children's Emergency

South Health Campus Children's Emergency (C-Pod) is a dedicated pediatric emergency unit located within the South Health Campus in Calgary, Alberta, serving families from south Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Strathmore, and surrounding communities. The nine-bed pod features themed rooms with murals, a private family waiting area, and fully monitored beds capable of managing seriously ill children, infants, and adolescents — including sedations and emergency procedures. As part of one of Calgary's largest hospitals and a referral centre for southern Alberta, this pediatric ER provides specialized emergency care in a child-friendly environment staffed by emergency physicians, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists.

Services & Specialties

Dedicated pediatric emergency department (C-Pod) with 9 monitored beds, Emergency care for infants, children, and adolescents, Pediatric sedation and emergency procedures, Mental health emergency assessment and consultation for youth over 14, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) assessment, Respiratory therapy services, Intensive care unit (ICU) on site, Cardiac diagnostics, Pulmonary diagnostics, Rapid Access Unit, Bone and Joint Cast Clinic, Day surgery units, Multilingual interpreter services.

Amenities

• ATM in the Emergency Department waiting room and on the main level near the Wellness Centre
• Rexall Pharmacy on-site
• Good Earth Café and Market Café
• Beverage and snack vending machines near the Forest parking elevators
• Water stations adjacent to the Market Café and Good Earth Café
• Free Wi-Fi — connect to 'healthspot' network and accept the use policy
• Wellness Centre featuring a YMCA, Wellness Kitchen, climbing wall, weight room, and track
• Multilingual interpreter services through the hospital's multicultural program
• Motorized scooter available for patient use (request at Level 1 information desk)
• Wheelchair accessible facility with wheelchairs available at the parkade, main entrance, and ED
• Smoke-free and scent-free campus

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

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Tips Before You Go

• Enter through the main Emergency Department — staff will direct you to the dedicated children's C-Pod area, which has its own private waiting space separate from the adult ED.
• All patients are triaged using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS); the most critical cases are seen first, so wait times can vary depending on the volume and severity of other patients.
• If your child requires a mental health emergency assessment, note that South Health Campus sees adolescents aged 14 and older — younger children may need to visit Alberta Children's Hospital.
• Use the free 'healthspot' Wi-Fi to keep yourself informed and entertained during your wait — simply open a browser and accept the use policy after connecting.
• If you need medication filled, a Rexall Pharmacy is located on-site, making it convenient to fill any prescriptions before you head home.

What to Bring

• Provincial health card (Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan card)
• Government-issued photo ID for the parent or guardian
• List of the child's current medications, dosages, and any known allergies
• Immunization records if relevant to the presenting concern
• Any existing referral letters or medical records related to the visit
• Comfort items for the child such as a favourite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal
• Snacks and a water bottle for caregivers, as wait times can vary
• Phone charger or portable battery pack to stay connected during your visit

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Alberta health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.