Published: Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Hospitals join up for neonatal unit
The combined program is expected to serve some 500 newborns during its first full year.
YOUNGSTOWN — Akron Children's Hospital and Humility of Mary Health Partners have collaborated to create a neonatal special care nursery at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
The 20-bed special care nursery takes care of newborns with developmental problems such as immature lungs, central nervous system disorders, low birth weight and birth defects. St. Elizabeth's doctors and Akron Children's nurses staff the unit seven days a week, officials said.
"This partnership enhances the quality of care for sick and premature newborns, allowing maternity parents and their babies to access the high quality care of both hospitals under one roof," said Dr. Elena Rossi, chairwoman of the Pediatrics Department at St. Elizabeth.
In 2006, nearly 900 newborns were treated in the neonatal intensive care and special care units operated by Akron Children's in Akron, and about 400 special care newborns were treated at St. Elizabeth.
The combined program is expected to serve an estimated 500 newborns here during its first full year of operation, Dr. Rossi said.
A growing partnership
The neonatal special care nursery at St. Elizabeth is the latest step in the growing partnership between Akron Children's Hospital and Humility of Mary Health Partners. Akron Children's personnel staff the pediatric inpatient unit at St. Elizabeth, and will provide these services at the new St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center in late fall, hospital officials said.
Akron Children's also provides pediatric emergency care services within the Emergency Department at St. Elizabeth. These services augment the round-the-clock pediatric services available at the St. Elizabeth adult Level 1 trauma center, Dr. Rossi said.
Additionally, Akron Children's Hospital Heart Center and Pediatric Specialties moved into the new Boardman Medical Pavilion on the St. Elizabeth Boardman campus in May. This office provides pediatric specialty care in cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, endocrinology, pulmonology, nephrology and rheumatology, officials said.
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