A new service being offered at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital provides specialized pediatric patient care designed to meet the unique needs of children seeking non-critical treatment. The service, which began in May, is contracted through Valley Inpatient Pediatrics and includes four pediatric intensivists.
 
Led by Cesar Chavarria, MD, the intensivists will work closely with Henry Mayo's nurses, clinical staff, and physicians to coordinate optimal care for pediatric patients, including consultation to emergency department physicians. Pediatric patients admitted to the hospital will be followed by the intensivists on a daily basis.
 
"Pediatric patients require a very focused plan of care, different from adults," commented Larry Kidd, RN, BSN, MPA, vice president patient care services and chief nursing officer at Henry Mayo. "Parents can feel confident knowing that these physicians specialize in taking care of pediatric patients and that after discharge there will be a solid handoff for follow-up care to the child's primary pediatrician."
 
Kidd added that Henry Mayo's definitive observation unit nurses are trained in pediatric care, including handling emergencies, and will be working closely with the pediatric intensivists.