Connecticut Children's and Saint Mary's Hospital Reopen Pediatric Unit
September 10, 2020WATERBURY, Conn. -- As part of its ongoing commitment to providing expert pediatric care close to home, Connecticut Children’s has reopened its 12 inpatient bed unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital. Connecticut Children’s – Waterbury is staffed by board-certified pediatric specialists and team members dedicated to providing inpatient care to children who need safe and sound health care.
At the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Connecticut Children’s at Saint Mary’s temporarily closed their unit to provide additional space for Saint Mary’s to care for the adult population that was impacted by COVID. Given the improved numbers, hospital administrators determined it was safe to reopen the unit on September 1, 2020 in order to provide local pediatric patients high quality, family-centered care.
“We are proud to provide safe and expert pediatric care to children and families in the greater Waterbury area. It’s important that all families have quick and easy access to Connecticut Children’s expertise when and where they need it most,” said Dr. Marta Neubauer, Connecticut Children’s Hospitalist and Medical Director of the Waterbury unit. “Saint Mary’s also recognizes this need and has been a great partner as we work to deliver care in a safe environment. We want families to know that they can and should seek medical care when their child needs it. We also offer video visits in some cases.”
“We’ve heard from many community pediatricians expressing their joy that the Connecticut Children’s unit has reopened,” says Dr. Steven Schneider, president of Saint Mary’s Hospital. “The unit provides complete inpatient care for pediatric patients right in the community.”
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut dedicated to children, providing more than 30 pediatric specialties along with community-based programs. Known for exceptional care and conveniently delivered at locations close to home and by Video Visit. Connecticut Children’s experts lead breakthrough research and innovative partnerships and have won awards for everything from nursing excellence to patient-friendly technology.
Connecticut Children’s established a unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital several years ago. Saint Mary’s emergency department has worked closely with the unit to establish an observation quick admission process, to try to decrease the length of stay for patients in the ED, specifically for things like IV fluids and dehydration, things that can be managed in an inpatient setting. Saint Mary’s Emergency Department can begin the management of specific care and quickly transition the patient to the Connecticut Children’s unit.
Saint Mary’s Emergency Room pediatric unit is the only one of its kind in the region, boasting three highly trained emergency pediatric physicians, as well as two general pediatricians. Saint Mary’s is also the community training site for Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship programs at Connecticut Children’s. In addition, Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter School of Medicine has its pediatric emergency medicine rotations for their medical students at Saint Mary’s.
Physicians with Pediatric Emergency Medicine Residency and Fellowship training bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge. After three years of pediatric residency, these doctors do an additional three years of strictly pediatric emergency medicine.
Connecticut Children’s and Saint Mary’s are deeply committed to providing high quality and compassionate care to all patients, especially the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community.