Pottstown, Pa. (Feb. 2, 2012) – Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) has partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) to provide two full-time pediatric hospitalists at PMMC. Pediatric hospitalists are pediatricians who care for children who are hospitalized with a wide variety of illnesses and medical conditions.
The pediatric hospitalists will provide inpatient coverage in PMMC's newly renovated ten-bed inpatient pediatric unit. Caring for patients from infancy to adolescents, they also will provide consultations for children coming through PMMC's emergency room and newborns in the Maternity and Women’s Health Center, and attend high risk deliveries. The pediatric hospitalists will work with patients' pediatricians, primary care physicians and other specialists to provide coordinated care during and after hospitalization.
The inpatient dedicated unit is located on the 5th floor of the medical center. Pediatric trained nurses care for a full complement of illness, injury and medical conditions with the support of a Pediatric hospitalist. The unit has been decorated with kids in mind including a large hallway whimsical mural (see photo) and a children’s activity room. Patient rooms feature private bathrooms and soothing colors and provide “rooming in” capabilities for parents of pediatric patients.
If there is a need for more specialized care on an inpatient or outpatient basis, pediatric patients at PMMC now have a direct link to LVHN's comprehensive pediatric services. As the region's leader in pediatrics, LVHN has pediatric physicians board-certified in 26 specialties such as critical care, oncology, hematology, endocrinology, neurology and surgery. LVHN offers the region's only Children's ER and pediatric intensive care unit as well as a Level III (highest level) neonatal intensive care unit.
"Parents often feel anxious and overwhelmed when their child is hospitalized," said Sharif Omar, PMMC CEO. "By partnering with Lehigh Valley Health Network, we can lessen parents' anxiety by offering high-quality pediatric care right at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Our goal is to make sure parents don't have to travel out of the area for specialized care for their children."
"We're proud to formalize our relationship in pediatrics with our colleagues at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center,” said John Van Brakle, MD, chair, department of pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Health Network. “They share our vision of high-quality health care for children.”
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; nine health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes trauma care at the region's busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 16 consecutive years as one of America's Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Lehigh Valley Hospital has been selected as a National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC), a 226-bed, acute care community hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. The medical staff features more than 260 physicians and 40 medical specialties. PMMC offers a full array of inpatient services, and convenient outpatient locations for ambulatory surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostic services, wound care, occupational health services, lab work, family care and pediatrics, Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center, the Center for Orthopedics and Spine and the Center for Wound Healing. Each year, over 45,000 people are treated in our renovated emergency department and fast-track area.