Studer Family Children’s Hospital Launches First-of-Its-Kind Pediatric Sedation Team on the Gulf Coast

For children facing repeated medical procedures, anxiety can often be as overwhelming as the treatment itself. At Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, a new Pediatric Sedation Team is transforming that experience by dramatically reducing stress, shortening procedure times, and helping families stay together when it matters most.

The program, made possible through Ascension Sacred Heart's collaboration with Nemours Children's Health, which began in July 2025, brings together specially trained physicians and nurses to provide safe, efficient sedation for a wide range of pediatric procedures. Since launching, the team has quickly become an essential resource across the hospital, serving dozens of patients each week.

"This is the first of its kind in the whole Gulf Coast area," said Dr. Timothy Carroll, Medical Director of Pediatric Sedation Services. "By utilizing tools like nitrous oxide and more advanced sedation practices, we can perform procedures that don't require a full operating room, quicker, easier, and with a much shorter recovery time."

Previously, even routine procedures could take more than four hours when performed in an operating room setting. Today, most sedation cases are completed in 30 to 60 minutes from start to finish.

Beyond efficiency, the program is designed with a strong focus on patient and family comfort. Parents are allowed to remain with their child until sedation begins and are present again as they wake, something that was not typically possible before.

"For many families, that alone changes everything," said Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. "They're here when the kids go to sleep, and they're here when they wake back up. It makes patients and families feel much more comfortable."

The impact is especially meaningful for children with chronic conditions who require frequent procedures, such as oncology patients undergoing spinal taps or bone marrow evaluations, sometimes dozens over the course of treatment.

For 15-year-old oncology patient Phoebe Meade, the Sedation Team has been a godsend. She was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March of 2024. She is constantly at the hospital for different treatments and procedures as part of her ongoing care.

"Hospitals are always scary," Phoebe said. "When you have the option of being able to sleep through it, it takes so much weight off of my shoulders. I don't have to be anxious about what's happening at the moment."

The challenges of battling cancer are extremely difficult and Phoebe's mother, Jodi Meade, is grateful for something that eases the burden.

"Anything that can eliminate stress in both of our lives is huge," she said. "You have to be here every week no matter what, so just knowing that this team can make that part of our life faster, easier, no anxiety, no stress, is super helpful for both of us."

The Sedation Team is staffed by intensive care physicians and specially trained registered nurses, all of whom underwent dedicated training, including certification through the Society of Pediatric Sedation. They are currently available five days a week and support physicians across multiple specialties, averaging 60-70 cases a month.

Consistency is also a key part of the program's success.

"We have the same staff, and that familiarity matters," said Ivan Martinez, RN, Sedation Clinical Lead. "Families know what to expect. They know who they're going to see. That creates a completely different atmosphere, one where both the child and the family feel calm and supported."

The team performs a wide range of procedures, including lumbar punctures, G-tube changes, sutures, and more. In many cases, multiple procedures can be coordinated into a single visit, further reducing the burden on families.

"With this expansion, we're able to keep up with the growing needs of our community," Dr. Carroll said. "More importantly, we're able to do it in a way that minimizes pain and anxiety for kids."

"This has been a long time coming," added Dr. Schwartz. "We've talked about a sedation service for years and have just never been able to put all the pieces together. Nemours joining forces with Sacred Heart has just made it seamless."

As the program continues to grow, its impact is already clear: shorter visits, less fear, and a better experience for children and their families.

For Phoebe, that difference is simple but powerful.

"Knowing my mom is with me when I go to sleep and when I wake up, it's relieving," she said. "It makes everything a little less scary."