Hospitals’ Link Helps Children

WATERBURY — To better serve sick children, Waterbury Hospital and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) of Hartford have formed an affiliation.

The affiliation, the first of its kind for Waterbury Hospital, will function on several levels, enhancing care for children and adolescents in western Connecticut.

Under the terms of the agreement, pediatric specialists from CCMC will be on site at Waterbury Hospital on a scheduled basis to provide outpatient, elective care to children with special needs. Children with such conditions as heart or pulmonary problems now will be cared for close to home, in most cases saving them and their families from a round-trip to Hartford during a stressful time.

“This partnership will bring an unprecedented level of pediatric medical expertise to Waterbury,” said Waterbury Hospital President and CEO John H. Tobin. “Linking with a tertiary medical center dedicated only to the care of children ensures that Waterbury Hospital will remain a vital force in treating kids in the new century.”

Larry Gold, president and CEO of CCMC, said the mission of the Children’s Medical Center is to “help children receive the care they need as close to their own doorsteps as possible. This new affiliation will extend specialized pediatric services to the children of Waterbury and western Connecticut.” The affiliation became official January 1.

Founded in 1996, the 123-bed medical center in Hartford is dedicated wholly to caring for children. Waterbury Hospital opened in 1890. It has a licensed bed capacity of 367.

Specialists from CCMC will be an on-site resource to Waterbury Hospital’s Emergency Department and Pediatric Care Unit to provide ongoing training and education to nursing staff on the latest in pediatric care. CCMC medical leadership will join Waterbury’s pediatric medical director Richard Johnson, MD to oversee team care for children, from admission through discharge. Dr Johnson will be on staff at both CCMC and Waterbury Hospital, providing both medical and administrative links between the two facilities.

To further enhance emergency care for children, all Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department physicians will have specialized training in pediatric emergency medicine.

“Now when your child is admitted to Waterbury Hospital, or is treated in our Emergency Department, he or she has effectively entered the CCMC system,” said Dr Johnson. For those children who may require transfer to CCMC, the affiliation will emphasize seamless care. “It’s a straight line for kids who need a smooth transition from one medical center to the other,” said Dr Johnson.

For those children who require ongoing specialized care, “We’re now bringing the experts to them,” said Steven S. Schneider, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Waterbury Hospital, who, with Dr Johnson, forged the affiliation agreement over the past year.

“Receiving this level of care close to home will be a tremendous burden lifted for many area families, and represents the next level of care for kids in our community,” Dr Schneider said.