Copyright © Margaret
Michaels 2008 All rights reserved
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publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system
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from the author.
Client: Scottsdale Healthcare
Business: Hospital and health services
Project: Article for Heartbeat newsletter from Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation
Neonatal Intensive Care for
Special Babies
The natural extension of our
Family Birthing Center
When Judy and Clarence
Bowe’s grandchild arrived with critical-care needs, they naturally wanted to be
as close to the infant as possible. Unfortunately, they had to join countless other Scottsdale parents and
grandparents who faced lengthy commutes across the Valley to bond with their
special-needs newborns. The experience
left them with a deep concern about the lack of neonatal intensive care within
their own community—a situation they decided to change through personal involvement
and a lead gift to Scottsdale Healthcare.
In January of 2002, the Bowe
Special Care Nursery opened at the SHC Shea campus. Ideally located on the
second floor of the Women’s Center adjacent to the new Family Birthing Center,
this 20-bed neonatal intensive care or NICU unit now treats an average of 10
special-needs newborns every day. As a
Level II Enhanced Qualifications neonatal unit, the nursery provides a wide
range of critical care to babies delivered in the 28th week of pregnancy and
longer. Some stays are as short as two
days, while smaller babies may require hospitalization for several weeks.
Neonatologist Ellen Rosenberg, M.D., serves as the medical director for the
Bowe Special Care Nursery.
According to Rosenberg,
babies can arrive with special needs for a host of reasons beyond premature
birth. Infections, immature lung
disease, cleft lip and palate, hormonal imbalances, feeding problems, blood
transfusions, and jaundice are some of the health issues that can require
hospitalization. The Bowe Special Needs
Nursery brings together state-of-the-art equipment and skilled professionals to
support such multiple neonatal specialties such as ventilator care, pediatric
surgery, gastroenterology, orthopedics, hematology, and endocrinology.
Working Closely with
Families
Bringing critical/intensive
care closer to home is only part of the story of the NICU at Shea. In concert with the Family Birthing Center,
this specialized facility and its staff are dedicated to helping families bond
and grow healthy together. “We help
parents deal with tough issues,” explains Rosenberg. “Even in high-risk pregnancies, parents
expect to take home ‘the perfect Gerber baby.’ We teach them to deal with special-needs babies and leave NICU with a
greater sense of peace."
According to Nursery ICU Nurse
Manager Chris Rogers, every family receives personal attention. “I'm so appreciative that we can give our
babies essential care while we offer training for parents," she
elaborates. "We can send our
families home feeling prepared. Every aspect of the nursery is family
oriented. We even provide health
screenings for young siblings and encourage them to accompany mom and dad on
visits with their baby brother or sister.”
Creating a Nurturing
Environment
“Incorporating the services
of the SHC Essential Touch Wellness Center into NICU expands the opportunities
to comfort and nurture our babies,” Rosenberg adds. Premature babies often require treatments
like intravenous needles and monitors that are not gentle. Through massage therapy, staff members can
introduce tender touches that relieve newborn stress, develop muscle tone in
preemies, and help newborns to react to touch in a less-jittery fashion.
Because babies in NICU often
lack the chance to bond with their parents, appropriate developmental care
becomes an important goal. Rogers
explains, "We try to ‘replace’ some of that delayed closeness through
‘kangaroo care’ and soothing massage. We
teach parents how to bond with special needs newborns, encourage
breast-feeding, and co-bed our twins." The Bowe Special Care Nursery addresses the emotional needs of the
entire family, from prenatal orientations and consultations to respectful care
for babies who are unlikely to survive. When the need arises, staff members facilitate connections with hospice and
other appropriate services.
The Scottsdale Healthcare
Difference
“The commitment of
Scottsdale Healthcare to the community sets us apart," adds
Rosenberg. "When we need something,
we have people who will listen and provide a solution.” Although the newborn intensive care nursery
primarily serves the greater Scottsdale community, it is also a transport
center that receives special-needs infants from as far away as Show Low,
Prescott, and Kingman.
Rosenberg predicts that the
SHC Shea NICU will grow increasingly busier with the expanding array of
prenatal care specialties for high-risk pregnancies. She envisions adding services that will
qualify the unit for Level III status—the highest level of newborn critical
care—and opening a developmental clinic to follow up with infants and
facilitate early intervention for developmental delays.
Rosenberg also praises the
present facility as a "wonderful unit." In her words, "Our modest size allows us
to absolutely dote on families and make sure that parents bond with their
babies. Attention to those important
details often becomes lost in larger neonatology centers. I love working here. An NICU can often be frightening, but the
newborn intensive care nursery at Scottsdale Healthcare is truly a happy
place.”
NICU Complements Family
Birthing Center
The newborn intensive care
nursery is a natural extension of the newly expanded Family Birthing Center at
the SHC Shea campus’ Women’s Center. Offering all private rooms, this family-focused center now accommodates
350 to 400 deliveries a month. With NICU
just steps away, babies born with special needs can be instantly moved for
critical care. Moms with special medical
needs are able to receive on-site care from perinatologists before, during, and
after delivery. Located at SHC Shea,
these specialists also provide consultations and services at SHC Osborn.
Karrie Francois, M.D.,
serves as the medical director for perinatal services at SHC Shea and
Osborn. "The complement of our
perinatal services with NICU gives our families the advantage of advanced care
close to home," she adds. "Women no longer have to travel across the valley for treatment and
delivery, and obstetricians appreciate the consultative support we
provide. They have confidence in our
Family Birthing Centers to deal with a wide spectrum of high-risk conditions
from pre-term labor to pre-delivery diagnosed birth defects. We're excited to play a role in bringing such
a wide range of highly specialized services into the heart of this vital,
growing community."
Client: The
Lear Eye Clinic
Business: Eye
care and ophthalmic surgery
Project: Introductory brochure
The Lear Eye Clinic
Clearly, Arizona’s Vision
Correction Experts
For your convenience The
Lear Eye Clinic maintains two Medicare-certified Ambulatory Surgery Centers,
fully licensed by the State of Arizona: one in Scottsdale, the other in Sun
City. Ophthalmic surgeries include radial keratotomy, cataract surgery, and
laser treatments. The Clinic offers competitive fees and provides written,
itemized quotes before surgery. We also participate with Medicare and accept
assignment.
Headed by Medical Director
Samuel L. Pallin, M.D., The Lear Eye Clinic team includes Director of
Anesthesiology Gerald L. Feinberg, specialized ophthalmic nurses, and highly
trained technicians. Together, this skilled team performs preliminary
screenings, medical eye examinations, and surgical treatment. Appointments for
exams, evaluations, or checkups can be scheduled from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday
through Friday.
Cataract Treatment
A cataract is a cloud that
forms in the lens of the eye, distorting or impairing vision. While cataracts
are most commonly found in older patients, they can occur in any age group.
Clear vision can be restored through a simple, painless procedure that removes
the cataract and replaces it with a plastic lens or “implant.” Cataract
treatments are performed in less than 15 minutes on an outpatient basis in our
surgical suites.
RK Surgery
Radial Keratotomy is a
surgical procedure for the correction of nearsightedness, enabling millions of
people to enjoy normal eyesight without eye glasses or contact lenses. Patients
at least 20 years old with stable nearsightedness or astigmatism may be
candidates for this simple procedure.
If you feel that cataract
treatment or RK surgery could be of benefit to you or a loved one, we will be
happy to answer your questions and set up a consultation. We also keep a
library of informative sheets, booklets, and video tapes.
Gerald L. Feinberg, M.D.
The Lear Eye Clinic is
pleased to introduce Gerald L. Feinberg, Director of Anesthesiology and
Board-certified anesthesiologist. Dr. Feinberg earned his medical degree from
the New York University College of Medicine in 1950. After an internship and
residency in internal medicine at Kings County Hospital and Brooklyn Veterans
Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Feinberg served in the U.S.
Army Medical Corps. He later opened a private practice on Long Island.
Upon completion of his
residency in anesthesiology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in 1964, Dr.
Feinberg assumed leading positions within his specialty. Highlights include
Clinical Instructor of Anesthesiology at Columbia Medical School, Director of
Anesthesiology at Jewish Memorial Hospital in New York City, and Chief of
Anesthesiology at Newport Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island.
In addition to his exclusive
practice with The Lear Eye Clinic, Dr. Feinberg is currently an honorary staff
member at Walter O. Boswell Hospital in Sun City. A respected professor and
author, his scientific articles have appeared in the New York Journal of
Medicine and other medical publications.
Client: Scottsdale Healthcare
Business: Hospital and health services
Project: Article for Heartbeat newsletter from Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation
SHC Pediatric Specialties
Keeping Our Families Close
to Home
Scottsdale has stretched far
beyond its image as an idyllic haven for retirees and empty-nesters. Over the decades, this growing community has
become a magnet for young couples and families who are raising small children. In fact, the 2000 U.S. Census revealed that one
out of five Scottsdale residents is a child under 18.
Continuity of Care
Why the focus on pediatrics
at the Shea campus? SHC Director of
Women & Children’s Services Kim Post cites several reasons. “Pediatric care starts at birth," she explains.
"With the growing obstetrics
population at the Shea campus, it made sense to expand pediatrics at the same
location. We are already bonding with
parents at our Shea Family Birthing Center and want to continue that connection
throughout the parenting years. Pediatric
specialists are not plentiful, so we need to maximize their efficiency and
accessibility to our community. Kids
also tend to become sick more quickly than adults. Having pediatrician John Pope, M.D., and his
partners available in the hospital at a moment's notice gives us a real
advantage in meeting their needs.”
“We have already seen
tremendous growth,” SHC Pediatrics Nurse Manager Mary Davila adds. “During the first year, we averaged two to
five patients a day. Today, we serve 10 or more children each day during the
summer months and as many as 20 to 25 in the winter.” The SHC 16-bed pediatrics unit was designed
with the flexibility to accommodate seasonal demands.
Davila and Pope both see the
Pediatrics Program as an essential step in fulfilling the SHC mission as a
community hospital system that provides care close to home. Prior to expanding the SHC Pediatrics Program,
parents and their patients—as well as pediatricians—had to drive across town to
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s, Maricopa County Medical Center, or
Desert Samaritan. As the medical
director of the SHC Pediatrics Program, Dr. Pope or one of his three associate
physicians is on site seven days a week, day or night.
Designed with Kids in Mind
The SHC Pediatrics Program
goes beyond advanced medical treatment. Every
detail has been thoughtfully planned to make a child's hospital stay more
pleasant and less threatening. A Child
Life Specialist is on staff to normalize the hospital experience with education,
playtime, and other programs. All
pediatric rooms have videocassette players for the available Nintendo 64 games,
and even finicky eaters will find it hard to resist the kid-friendly menus. Recognizing the importance of a parent's
loving presence, the hospital provides a sleeper chair in each pediatric room
and offers three meals a day to one parent.
“Being able to offer
24-hour, in-house care expands our ability to meet community needs,
particularly for very sick kids or families without a doctor or insurance,”
Pope comments. The program covers a wide
range of sub-specialties from orthopedic and general surgery to endocrinology,
ear-nose-throat, gastro-intestinal, and infectious diseases. With a focus intently on the care and comfort
of children, investment in state-of-the-art equipment is ongoing. "Our new MRI-compatible anesthesia
machine provides a more successful treatment that returns the patient home more
quickly," Pope elaborates. "We
now have the equipment to perform endoscopy, and we are soon to acquire
motion-sensitive pulse-oximeter machines that will enable us to treat active
children more comfortably.”
Child-Friendly Emergency
Care
The new Pediatric Emergency
Room at Shea combines a kid-friendly atmosphere with special considerations
that minimize exposure to other emergency cases. Every procedure, every item of equipment, and
the overall environment are tailored around a child’s physical and emotional
needs. Families have a separate
emergency entrance and a dedicated waiting room with developmentally
appropriate toys. Seven critical-care
beds handle childhood emergencies such as diabetic problems, seizures,
breathing difficulties, and minor traffic accident injuries. Most equipment is sized for smaller patients,
and attending nurses receive specialized training for childhood emergency care.
Complementing the whimsical "fish
theme" décor, many staff members wear fish-adorned scrubs and dispense
brightly designed band-aids. Each
emergency room bedside includes a television and play station.
In a very real sense, the
SHC Pediatrics Program is a microcosm of youth health trends observed
throughout the nation. “We’re seeing
more asthma, obesity, and Type II diabetes as well as health issues resulting
from advanced maternal age pregnancies or multiple births that occur after
infertility treatments,” Pope explains. His
future goal is a self-contained Pediatric Unit at SHC Shea that adds
hematology, oncology, and expanded outpatient services like an infusion clinic
and a pediatric intensive care unit. “Expanding
our ability to care for children of all ages and seeking opportunities to grow
through affiliations will help us provide a continuum of lifetime care,” Kim
Post adds. “We want to help with
parenting issues, childhood diseases, and other child-rearing concerns in our
community.”
Client: The
Cradle House
Business: Prenatal and post-natal healthcare
Project: Excerpts from business plan and program description
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, The Cradle House is a bed-and-breakfast
and resource center for pregnant and postpartum parents targeted toward the
high-risk teenage and lower-income mothers. This home provides skilled Obstetrical Registered Nurses that assist new
parents in preparing for the rigors of caring for their newborn. A Cradle House professional follows up by
telephone to confirm the successful adjustment of the mother and infant or
family.
Market
Early discharge of mothers
and infants from the hospital—typically within one or two days—leaves young
families unprepared and lacking support as they face the challenges of
parenthood. Short hospital stays provide
little time, if any at all, for educating parents about newborn care. In the case of a difficult pregnancy or
delivery, abbreviated hospital stays do not allow time for the new mother to
recuperate before facing the rigors of full-time infant care.
Phoenix is one of the
nation's largest metro areas and home to a significant population of teen
mothers as well as high-risk mothers and families. This at-risk population segment is the most
likely to lack strong examples of nurturing behavior, family support, and
adequate child-care training. Study
after study has shown that even within the general population and higher socio-economic
levels, abbreviated hospital stays are a source of dissatisfaction and concern.
As dedicated and highly
experienced nurses with an obstetrical specialty, the managing partners of The
Cradle House have witnessed first-hand the overwhelming need for a caring,
nurturing environment in which new mothers can bond with their babies,
recuperate fully from labor and delivery, and develop successful parenting
skills in a family-oriented setting.
Overview
The Cradle House is
not-for-profit resource center dedicated to providing prenatal and postnatal
skilled nursing and educational services in an attractive, residential
setting. The target patient population
consists of high-risk teen mothers/couples and low-income mothers/couples.
Prenatal education includes
bi-lingual (English and Spanish) classes for both mothers and fathers. Topics covered include but are not limited to
childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting, infant care, and child development.
Upon completion of the
initial 10 to 12-hour recovery period at the hospital, patients are referred to
The Cradle House by their obstetrician for 24 to 36 hours of additional
postpartum recovery as well as for postnatal educational benefits.
Mothers are already familiar
with the staff through prenatal educational services and feel a sense of familiarity
and comfort in the transition from the hospital to The Cradle House resource
center. If the mother wishes, she may
invite her partner/spouse to share The Cradle House experience.
The Cradle House offers “bed
and breakfast” accommodations where new mothers and beginning families can be
pampered in a warm, caring, and aesthetically pleasing environment. This residential setting is physically
equipped to meet postpartum recovery needs and carefully staffed to provide
concrete examples of authentic nurturing.
New parents are able to
leave The Cradle House with a sense of awareness and confidence about the
life-altering challenges ahead. They
have the assurance before and after delivery that Cradle House professionals
are willing to answer any questions or discuss any concerns that might arise.
After the mother and newborn
are discharged from The Cradle House, a staff member follows up by telephone to
confirm progress and assess any problems with breastfeeding, child care, family
adjustment, or the mother’s own personal care. The staff member also identifies any issues that may require referral to
other valuable community resources.
Select new mothers who have
successfully demonstrated the skills acquired at The Cradle House are invited
to join the Peer Mentoring Program, serving as a strong source of encouragement
for new patients. Few words are more
comforting than, "I felt that way too."
Mission Statement
Through skilled care,
prenatal and postnatal education, counseling and follow-up services, The Cradle
House creates a positive, caring atmosphere for at-risk mothers. From pregnancy through delivery, our resource
center offers the promise of a healthy, nurturing beginning for each new family
it serves.
Along with supportive
healthcare providers and organizations, The Cradle House will have a lasting,
positive impact on the health and well being of parents and newborn infants in
the city of Phoenix and throughout the State of Arizona.
