Childrens' Hospital playroom opens
Last Thursday, the new 700-square-foot playroom designed and furnished by the Starlight-Starbright Foundation and Toys R Us—opened as part of the new Pediatrics unit on L2 East in the Children’s Hospital. In January, the new 17,500-square-foot unit opened to provide 15 additional rooms and the capability to admit up to 25 children. The safari-themed floor also includes a teen lounge, treatment/exam room and family resource center.
The previous pediatric space in the Main Tower on the third floor (adjacent to the PICU) is converting to an intermediate care unit to provide a smoother
transition from one level of care to the next as children heal and prepare to go home.
"We've experienced a steady growth of about 12 percent per year over the past three years," says Peggy Mangiaracina, executive director of the Children's Hospital. In fact, volumes during the first nine months of 2005 exceeded the total number for all of 2004.
"Since we offer the region’s only pediatric intensive care, oncology and emergency/trauma center, it was imperative that we increase our flexibility to admit pediatric patients," Mangiaracina adds.
Along with adding space, the Children's Hospital added more trained pediatric nurses and hired nurse manager, Loly Reyes-Gonzales, RN, MSN, who brings experience in pediatric inpatient care as well as outpatient clinic program development.
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