ON HEALTH

The UT-Medical Branch Health Children’s Hospital opened April 17 in the John Sealy Hospital. Rooms are designed to make children’s stays more comfortable.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston opened its new Health Children’s Hospital on April 17, creating an asset to the community in caring for and treating one of its most vulnerable populations.

Located on the 10th floor of John Sealy Hospital, the children’s hospital is the result of many years of detailed planning and designing by several members of UTMB’s pediatric faculty and staff.

“The new UTMB Health Children’s Hospital offers unsurpassed care for children in an intimate, family-centered environment designed for both healing and fun,” said UTMB Health System Executive Vice President and CEO Donna Sollenberger in a press release.

“Countless times we have heard the saying that children are not small adults,” said UTMB Department of Pediatrics Chairwoman Dr. Joan Richardson. “Indeed, they are not. Children are different. They need a different kind of health care facility that focuses on their unique needs, involves their parents from start to finish, and is provided in a place designed to be child-size and kid-friendly.” And the new hospital isn’t just for the younger children, teens can stay at the hospital for treatment as well.

The hospital has been described by some as somewhat of a hotel for children with amenities such as a family fun zone, a toddler play room, a teen recreation area and the Debbie Reinhartsen Sheffield Family Resource Center, which is an oasis of sorts in the hospital designed to allow families to access information about their child’s illness.

“What sets our children’s hospital apart from other larger children’s hospitals in our area is the intimate, family-centered, personal experience our patients and families have when they are here,” said Dr. Christine Turley, UTMB vice chairwoman for pediatric clinical services, in a press release.

“We offer a very personal program, a very consistent team and not a lot of shuffling between different providers for families who are under the stress of a child’s hospitalization.”