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• Pediatric Inpatient Care Comes to East Pierce County

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  Partnership Between Good Samaritan Hospital & Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Will Provide Hospital Care Closer to Home

  PRESS RELEASE
  For Immediate Release
  Wednesday, July 25th, 2008
  Contact: Jennifer Aalgaard
  Phone: 253.219.1715
  Email: jennifer.aalgaard@goodsamhealth.org

  PUYALLUP, WA- Physicians and staff at MultiCare's Good Samaritan Hospital are pleased to announce Mary Bridge Pediatric Care at Good Samaritan, a partnership between Good Samaritan Hospital and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center. Through this partnership, children and their parents will be connected to the area’s most trusted children’s hospital with enhanced access to quality pediatric care in the greater Puyallup and East Pierce County community.

  Beginning in September, the newly expanded pediatric unit at Good Samaritan Hospital will benefit from having pediatric hospitalists on staff. The Mary Bridge Inpatient Pediatric Service will provide physician coverage for the Good Samaritan pediatric department, the special care nursery, and be available for consultation. The Mary Bridge team brings the philosophies and strengths of pediatric expertise and services to Good Samaritan. This partnership will make it possible for more children to receive inpatient pediatric care closer to home while keeping connected to their local pediatricians and providers every step of the way.

  “This is a very exciting time to be a part of MultiCare Health System, as we work to ensure the highest quality care for every member of our community!” says Ronn Goodnough, RN, Manager of Inpatient Pediatrics at Good Samaritan Hospital. “The new unit will have a family-centered atmosphere, featuring a family area, playroom and computer access.”

  Mary Bridge pediatricians staffing this program function as an extension of a child’s primary care provider, offering on-site personalized care to hospitalized children. They also serve children who do not have a pediatrician available for their hospital stay. This service is offered to all patients as well as referring community providers, regardless of their hospital privileges. Our collaborative program keeps the primary care provider updated throughout a child’s inpatient treatment. This is especially beneficial for providers in outlying communities or those not able to leave their busy office practice to make hospital rounds. Upon discharge from the hospital, a child is returned to the care of their pediatrician along with a discharge summary and follow-up phone call from the hospitalists.

  This pediatric hospitalist program mirrors the established program at Mary Bridge in Tacoma and the partnership formed with Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, in 2007.

  Posted on Jul 25, 2008 in