Reimagining Pediatric Emergency Care
From 2024 to 2025, children and youth from across the Maritimes visited the IWK Emergency Department (ED) an unprecedented 47,438 times.
With visits dramatically increasing year after year, the need for a new ED has never been more urgent. What was once only a dream is now becoming a reality. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we are building a space that will be among the leading pediatric EDs in North America.
Rendering of new Emergency Department (Source: William Nycum and Associates)
Construction is well underway and the IWK is already taking steps to enhance the delivery of patient care. New initiatives are being implemented to improve patient flow and overall experience—changes that will play a vital role in how care is delivered in the new ED.
This includes the introduction of a pre-triage assessment at arrival. Now, every patient is welcomed by a dedicated nurse who immediately assesses their condition. This role plays a critical part in recognizing patients who require immediate attention, ensuring that those with more serious conditions are identified early and brought more quickly into care.
The new space will be designed with this as a key component. The IWK is also streamlining registration and triage (assessment) by having patients and families meet with a nurse and registration clerk at the same time. This collaborative approach minimizes the need for patients and families to repeat information, helping to ease anxiety during a stressful time.
The IWK Foundation is proud to work alongside our donors, IWK Health and the Government of Nova Scotia to build a world-class ED that will serve generations of Maritime children and families.
Watch an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the ED build with IWK patient, Canon and Clinical ED Redevelopment Lead for the IWK, Becky!
In 2022, the late Arthur Irving, Sandra and Sarah Irving, the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, and Irving Oil gave a generous $6-million gift to enhance emergency care at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre. As part of this gift, Dr. Shashwat Desai has been named the IWK Fellow in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM). Dr. Desai, the first PEM Fellow supported through this donation, recently completed his fellowship and is now transitioning into clinical practice as a Pediatric Emergency Physician at the IWK!
In addition to the Fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, the gift will also support essential equipment and spaces within the IWK Children’s Emergency Room Development, including the Pediatric CT (Computed Tomography) scanner and suite, a radiography room, a procedure and sedation room, as well as a Child Life Specialist to support patients receiving care in these spaces.
“During my fellowship, I had the privilege to be trained by outstanding PEM physicians, participate in interdisciplinary trauma teams, engage in simulations and collaborate with pediatric specialists across disciplines.
These experiences have strengthened my medical knowledge, sharpened my clinical skills and helped me grow into a compassionate advocate for children and families. As I transition from fellowship into clinical practice, I am excited to begin my role as a Pediatric Emergency Physician at IWK Health, where I look forward to serving the children and families across the Maritimes.”
— Dr. Shashwat Desai
Dr. Shashwat Desai