Page 5 - Innovation-2017-02

As the population on the Central Coast continues to grow,
advancing Pediatric Services is imperative. By collaborating
with pediatric surgeons, Marian is able to provide children
with surgical services, no longer requiring families to
travel out of the area. “Having access to pediatric services
in our own community is appropriate and necessary.
We’re bringing specialty services to the front door of our
community,” states Tamir Keshen, MD, pediatric surgeon.

Building a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Since the opening of the new Marian Regional Medical Center in
2012, the hospital has experienced an 18% increase in pediatric
patient volume with more than 10,000 inpatient visits, 26,500 Tamir Keshen (left), MD, pediatric surgeon, and Paul Parker (right),
outpatient visits, and 54,000 emergency department visits. MD, pediatric hospitalist, stand with pediatric surgical patient
Merrick Groh.
Currently, highly specialized pediatric care is essentially
non-existent on the Central Coast, forcing local families Marian’s Emergency Department. As such, children requiring
to travel to Los Angeles, Madera, or the Bay Area. The emergency care will have their own separate entrance to
development of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) the unit and will be treated by experienced physicians and
at Marian Regional Medical Center would expand the nurses specially trained in pediatric emergency care.
breadth of advanced pediatric care offered throughout
the Santa Maria Valley and entire Central Coast. At Marian, our clinicians understand the complexities
associated with caring for children and we believe in
Marian is incredibly pleased to announce that the doing everything possible to help provide a more positive
development of a PICU is underway. As Ricardo Flores, interaction for both children and families. As part of the
MD, pediatric intensivist, notes, “It’s unfortunate that new Emergency Department, Marian is proud to offer both
some children have to be referred out of the area when we the specially trained pediatric staff and specialty pediatric
are the population center of the Central Coast. Through medical equipment as it is a unique offering that the vast
development of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, children majority of Emergency Department settings do not offer.
with severe and complicated diagnosis requiring specialized
care will be able to stay at Marian for their treatment.” Foundation Funds the Latest in
Pediatric Monitoring Technology
Since children can often be quite fragile and distressed by a
hospital stay, keeping these young patients at Marian surrounded Recently, the Pediatric Unit at Marian Regional Medical Center
by family and familiarity is of paramount importance. installed a new and state-of-the-art central monitoring system
to track patient vital signs for heart rate and oxygen levels.
Specialized Emergency
Care for our Children The Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation was proud
to fund this important piece of monitoring technology to
In one month alone, more than 2,100 children are seen in improve the patient experience as nurses are notified by
Marian Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department alarms at the Patient Care Center, thus creating a quieter
— representing 30% of all emergency patients seen. With and healing environment for the patient and their families.
such a large number of pediatric emergency patients, Marian
Regional Medical Center is committed to providing the As Christopher Jakowchik, RN, BSN, Manager,
highest level of care for our community’s youngest patients. Pediatrics/NICU, shares, “We care about our community’s
children and entire families. A hospital visit can be difficult
Once Marian’s Emergency Services Expansion Project for all: the child, their parents, and even siblings. We always
is complete, an exciting new feature will be a dedicated strive to provide the best experience during their stay and
pediatric area of the Emergency Department which will the new, advanced monitoring equipment will further
function as a pediatric emergency department within our commitment to providing excellent patient care.”

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