All Children Need Comprehensive Children’s Hospitals
What is a comprehensive children’s hospital?
Sick or injured kids require special care. When your child is a patient at a CHAT member hospital, they will be treated by specialists who have dedicated their careers to treating children’s diseases and conditions. Everyone–from the board, to the CEO, to the medical staff–is solely focused on caring for kids. This means comprehensive children’s hospitals live and breathe children’s healthcare all day, every day.
Not every “children’s hospital” is a comprehensive children’s hospital–even if a hospital treats children. Our hospitals’ staff have the pediatric-specific training, expertise, and equipment to care for your child so your child has the best experience and outcome. CHAT member hospitals give your child access to every vital pediatric specialty that your child could need for any type of injury or illness.
The Value of Children’s Hospitals: Texas Children’s Hospital changes baby Nash’s life
Kids are different, and so are comprehensive children’s hospitals. Kids are not just little adults–caring for children requires specialized skills, training and equipment. Comprehensive children’s hospitals treat each child with:
– Extended time;
– Intensive monitoring;
– Equipment, medications and doses according to body size;
– Specialized pediatric medical skills and compassion; and
– Interaction with family throughout the entire hospital stay.
Comprehensive Children’s Hospitals Are Unique Community Assets and Must Be Protected
Comprehensive children’s hospitals prioritize using board-certified pediatric specialists and physicians who have undergone years of child-specific training. Comprehensive children’s hospitals must have governance, operational leadership, and ancillary services that are unique to the children’s hospital, ensuring they can care for all children. Having independent, separate leadership and only child-focused medical staff means that the hospital is child-focused and children get the best care.
Comprehensive children’s hospitals:
– treat more children with disabilities than other hospitals.
– treat younger, non-verbal children who are more resource-intensive.
– have pediatric leadership who are empowered and have the authority within their system to advocate for the needs of their hospital and the children they serve.
– have clinicians who focus solely on providing care, including the most complex care, to children.
– provide comprehensive care by recruiting and retaining specialists and subspecialists who can treat the life-threatening conditions that kids face.