The Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County (Rady Children’s) has earned the prestigious Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award. This marks the fourth time the department has received the distinction.
The Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research, including innovative and evidence-based approaches that improve patient care and create a healthy work environment. This year, only 126 departments across the nation were honored.
Rady Children’s 22,000-square-foot emergency department, which is also home to the county’s only Level I pediatric trauma center, cared for more than 110,000 patients in 2025 — an average of more than 300 patients each day. At the same time, patient experience scores ranked in the 90th percentile compared with other pediatric emergency departments. The department’s physicians and staff are focused on reducing waiting times, improving patient flow and enhancing the overall experience for patients and families.
“No parent plans to bring their child to the emergency department, and we know those moments can be stressful and frightening,” said Mary Birkle, MSN, BSN, LNC, CNML, CEN, director of Emergency Services, Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County. “That’s what drives our team every day to provide exceptional care and make the experience as comforting and seamless as possible for every child and family who comes through our doors. Receiving this recognition for the fourth time reflects the incredible dedication behind that work.”
Looking ahead, Rady Children’s is expanding the emergency department to continue to meet the growing demand for emergency services. When completed this fall, the expanded department will have 46 beds and treatment bays.
