• The Emergency Department at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital has earned Pediatric Ready Facility Recognition from the Ohio Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program.
• The recognition reflects pediatric-focused preparation involving policies, equipment, staff training, patient-safety practices, disaster planning and continuous quality improvement.
• Pediatric Ready recognition is valid for three years and represents an ongoing commitment to maintaining readiness for children who need emergency care.

The emergency department at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital has been recognized as a Pediatric Ready Facility by the Ohio Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program, also known as Ohio EMSC. The recognition reflects the hospital’s alignment with national pediatric emergency care standards and its commitment to providing timely, safe and appropriate care for children and families. Riverside Methodist officially received the recognition in July 2026.

Children have distinct medical and emotional needs during an emergency. Being Pediatric Ready means an emergency department has prepared in advance with pediatric-focused policies and procedures, appropriately sized equipment and supplies, staff training and competencies specific to children, patient-safety practices, disaster plans that address pediatric needs and ongoing quality-improvement efforts.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire emergency department team and the intentional work that goes into being ready for children,” said Cyndole Messer, BSN, RN, ED Clinical Nurse Manager, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. “Our physicians, nurses and support teams worked together to strengthen our pediatric processes, participate in simulations and evaluate how we respond to the unique needs of children and their families. Pediatric Readiness is something we will continue to build upon every day.”

“Providing high-quality emergency care for children requires preparation long before a child arrives in the emergency department,” said Brad Raetzke, MD, Assistant Medical Director, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Emergency Department. “This recognition reflects our commitment to maintaining the training, resources and clinical expertise needed to care for pediatric patients safely and effectively whenever they need us.”

Achieving Pediatric Ready Recognition is the result of coordinated work among emergency physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, support staff and Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators. Eligible hospitals participate voluntarily by submitting required materials, completing a structured review and taking part in an onsite or virtual verification visit. Ohio EMSC provides guidance and technical assistance throughout the process.

Most children who require emergency treatment receive that care in community hospital emergency departments. Pediatric Readiness standards are intended to help those departments maintain the people, processes and equipment needed to care for children safely and effectively.

“Families should feel confident that when they come to Riverside during an emergency, our teams have taken purposeful steps to prepare for pediatric patients,” said Rob Cercek, president, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. “This recognition speaks to our associates’ commitment to safety, teamwork and continuous improvement. It also reinforces our responsibility to provide children and families with compassionate care during moments when they need us most.”

The standards supporting the recognition draw on national initiatives, including the National Pediatric Readiness Project and the Joint Policy Statement on Pediatric Readiness in the emergency department. They address pediatric-specific policies, appropriately sized supplies and equipment, staff competencies, patient safety, disaster preparedness and quality-improvement processes.

Pediatric Ready Recognition remains valid for three years. During that period, Riverside Methodist will continue its focus on pediatric training, evaluation, equipment, policies and quality improvement.

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, faith-based health system serving patients across Ohio through hospitals, physician practices, ambulatory locations and other health services. Guided by its mission to improve the health of those it serves, OhioHealth provides compassionate care while supporting medical innovation, education and community health.

About Ohio EMSC and Pediatric Readiness

Ohio EMSC is Ohio’s Emergency Medical Services for Children state partnership program. It advances Pediatric Readiness among hospitals and EMS agencies through education, technical assistance, resources and statewide coordination involving pediatric emergency care standards. The program is supported by a federal EMSC grant and is housed administratively at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau Emergency Medical Services for Children grant number H33MC48997, with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

It can often feel intimidating to advocate for oneself in a medical setting. Sometimes simply listening to one’s own body and not dismissing symptoms can be a struggle. Noni Banks, a heart health patient at OhioHealth, shares her heart health journey and the winding road to recovery.

“Nothing had prepared me for the trauma of receiving a serious health diagnosis,” Banks said. “Until that moment, I considered myself fairly healthy. I went to my annual physical, stayed active, and had never experienced a major medical event. Matter of fact, I had hired a trainer and was regularly exercising for over a year. I was getting into the best shape of my life. This diagnosis felt sudden and disorienting. I was totally blindsided”.

Banks sought care through OhioHealth in February 2022, during what she expected to be a typical workday. At the time, she was teaching a girls’ leadership session at a local school, work she has done many times before. “I was walking from the back of the building to the front, when I suddenly became extremely winded,” Banks said. “The short walk left me so out of breath that I had to stop and catch my breath. I knew immediately that something wasn’t right.”

She called her primary care physician’s office and explained what she was experiencing. Based on her symptoms, Banks was advised to go directly to the emergency room. She was hesitant, but had a strong, undeniable feeling that she needed to go.

“I drove to a freestanding OhioHealth emergency room, fully expecting a quick evaluation and hoping to be released in time to return and finish the day,” Banks said. “That expectation quickly changed.”

After being evaluated, a doctor came into the room and sat on the side of her bed. Banks said, “At that moment, I knew this was serious.” The doctor told her she was in heart failure and that she needed to be transferred to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Banks shared that her symptoms had been present for quite some time, for at least a year and a half prior. She experienced reoccurring symptoms such as shortness of breath, frequent headaches, blurred vision, and persistent fatigue. She also had elevated blood pressure readings.

“When I raised issues related to shortness of breath, I was prescribed an inhaler,” Banks said. “If my doctor wasn't concerned, I didn’t see a reason to be concerned.  Like many women, I dismissed these symptoms as stress, overwork, or simply pushing myself too hard.”

After being discharged from the hospital, Banks was connected with Lindsay Castle, DO, OhioHealth advanced heart failure cardiologist, where she began receiving the specialized cardiac care she needed.

Dr. Castle told NBC4 reporter, Samantha Bender, “A lot of people with chronic disease are at higher risk for heart problems. Patients that have high blood pressure, diabetes, patients that are overweight, those that are smoking or using nicotine products, using drugs or alcohol excessively.”

After her diagnosis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, Banks found herself navigating frequent appointments, testing, and cardiac rehabilitation, an experience that was both physically and emotionally demanding. Dr. Castle explains “Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is essentially a weakness of the pumping function of the heart. There are many different causes, but medications are a mainstay for treatment.”

Being significantly younger than many other cardiac rehab patients often left her feeling isolated and reminded her that heart failure does not fit a single profile. “I was constantly reminded that heart failure doesn’t look one way, and I didn’t fit the image people expected.”

The journey required major life adjustments, including stepping away from her business to focus on healing but coming back stronger than ever. Through recovery, she learned the importance of rest, self-compassion, and managing stress, ultimately reshaping how she approached both her health and her work.

“This experience taught me that rest is not weakness. That moment in February, choosing to listen to my body and act despite hesitation, ultimately saved my life,” Banks said. “It also strengthened my commitment to speaking openly about health equity, self-advocacy, and the importance of being persistent until you receive the care you deserve.”

Banks also reflected on her past medical experiences, often feeling dismissed and unheard in her appointments.

“Unfortunately, this experience reflects a broader reality for many Black and Brown women, who are often not fully heard, believed, or seen by healthcare providers.” Banks said. “Symptoms are frequently minimized, attributed to stress, or treated in isolation rather than examined in totality. My experience reinforced how important it is for women, especially women of color, to advocate for themselves and trust their instincts when something feels wrong.”

After having open and honest conversations with Dr. Castle at OhioHealth, she felt her care shift positively. “Dr. Castle never treated me like a number or a diagnosis,” Banks said, “She took the time to truly get to know me who I was beyond my medical chart-and she listened carefully to my concerns, questions, and fears.”

Banks said Dr. Castle asked her about her personal wellness goals and partnered with her to achieve them. “That sense of collaboration built trust and empowered me to be an active participant in my care,” Banks said.

“For me, it is important that my patients understand their heart disease and the plan for treatment. But it is even more important that I can earn their trust and be their partner on the road to recovery” Dr. Castle said.

Today, her heart pumping function is back to normal. She attributes her successful recovery to the medical care she received at OhioHealth, but also to her faith. Her team welcomed open conversations and worked together to find tailored solutions that fit her needs and wants. Banks emphasizes that this experience shows how important it is for women to trust their instincts when something feels wrong. She urges women to listen to their body, because that action can change the course of someone’s life.

“Most importantly, know that you are not alone,” Banks said. “There is support, there are providers who will listen, and there is a path forward. Choosing to pay attention to your body and advocate for your health is one of the most powerful acts of self-care you can make.”

Banks told NBC4 that her sister also has a form of heart failure. The two have participated in several American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaigns together, and Banks uses her own business, The Diva Movement, to empower local women to prioritize their health. “We need to talk about what’s going on health-wise in our families, because it’s not just for us, is for future generations,” Banks said.

OhioHealth

SPUR is designed to open blocked arteries and then be removed, unlike traditional stents that remain in the body. Through this procedure, blood can flow through better without leaving behind an implant. This is especially important for patients who are at higher risk of complications due to any underlying health conditions.

“This is a real game-changer for patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Phillips. “We now have a tool that can restore blood flow in hard-to-treat areas without the long-term risks associated with permanent stents.”

The SPUR® stent system works by using a balloon and tiny expandable spikes that help open the artery, clear the blockage and reshape the vessel to improve blood flow. It’s a more targeted and temporary approach that aims to advance healing and reduce long-term complications.

 “We are very proud that Dr. John Phillips and our OhioHealth team were able to perform the first peripheral intervention in Ohio utilizing the recently approved, novel SPUR system for treatment of peripheral arterial disease in the smaller tibial vessels,” said D. Chris Metzger, MD, OhioHealth system vascular chief. “This device offers the potential for a “stent-like” result without the need for a permanent implant, a significant advantage to many patients in the critical limb threatening ischemia population. OhioHealth is committed to utilizing cutting edge technologies for use in our patients as we treat their peripheral vascular disease”.

Dr. Phillips’ use of this breakthrough technology highlights OhioHealth’s commitment to pioneering solutions that enhance patient care and improve outcomes for high-risk individuals facing limb-threatening vascular disease.

A New Era in Heart Care
Riverside Methodist is among the first in the U.S. to lead national training efforts on 3D Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE), an advanced imaging technology that eliminates the need for scopes or general anesthesia in many heart procedures. This new imaging tool is a significant advancement at Riverside Methodist. Unlike traditional imaging that requires general anesthesia and invasive scopes, 3D ICE provides highly detailed images of the heart without discomfort or downtime. This allows many heart procedures to be performed faster, even more safely, and with a smoother recovery.

"We’ve shifted away from traditional, more invasive imaging tools and now use 3D ICE to perform procedures like valve repairs and left atrial appendage closures with remarkable precision and patient comfort,” said Dr. Carlos Sanchez, MD, interventional cardiologist at OhioHealth. “It’s not just about better outcomes it’s about changing the experience entirely."

Redefining Heart Procedures and Recovery
The team at Riverside Methodist is also at the forefront of improving recovery after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) which is a common treatment for severe aortic valve disease. Thanks to their innovative approach and research, more patients across the country are now able to return home safely the day after surgery, significantly speeding up the healing process.

OhioHealth physicians have also played a key role in updating national guidelines for how to perform TAVR in patients who can’t undergo the procedure using traditional access points, opening the door for more patients to benefit from this life-saving treatment. 

Global Collaboration, Local Impact
What sets the Structural Heart Program apart is the reach and influence of its medical team. Riverside Methodist doctors are not only performing cutting-edge procedures, but they’re publishing influential research, shaping national treatment standards, and collaborating with heart specialists worldwide to bring the latest innovations to Ohio patients.

“This level of expertise is rare, and it’s happening right here in Columbus,” said Dr. Steven Yakubov, MD, medical chief of the OhioHealth Structural Heart Program. “We’re committed to making world-class heart care accessible, so patients don’t need to leave their community to receive the very best.”

Leading the Way in Heart Health
From simplifying complex heart procedures to improving outcomes and recovery times, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital continues to raise the bar for cardiovascular care.