November 01, 2007

Turlock - Infants and children at Emanuel Medical Center now have their very own doctors caring for them 24 hours a day while they are hospitalized, thanks to a new affiliation with Children's Hospital Central California and Specialty Medical Group.

The new program means there is a board-certified pediatrician available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Emanuel Medical Center. Called a "Pediatric Hospitalist," the new doctors based at Emanuel attend complicated births, care for infants in the nursery, and treat child-aged patients in the Intensive Care Unit and regular pediatric unit.

The program is already in place, and came about after three years of discussion and planning with Children's Hospital Central California in Madera, just north of Fresno and Specialty Medical Group Central California, Inc..(SMG).  SMG is a 70-member pediatric physician sub-specialty group whose services include hospitalist care for patients at Children's Hospital.

John Sigsbury, President and CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, said the affiliation with Children's Hospital is another milestone for Emanuel, not unlike the hospital's partnership with Stanford Hospital & Clinics in providing radiation oncology services.

"Children's Hospital is famous for its pediatric care," he said. "This affiliation means families in Turlock are getting the very best care available for their children without having to leave town. We're proud of that."

William F. Haug, President and CEO of Children's Hospital Central California, said the partnership was a natural fit.

"It just makes sense," he said. "Emanuel is committed to caring for patients in the North Valley, and Children's Hospital Central California is committed to providing outstanding pediatric care.  Emanuel is keenly aware that children aren't just small adults and together we have created a win-win to provide excellent pediatric care for children in the North Valley."                                                

Dr. Hillel Janai will serve as medical director of the program in Turlock.

"It's very exciting," he said. "It ensures quality care, and because we're at the hospital full-time, we have more time to spend with families and support them."

Hospitalists are relatively new in the medical field. It used to be that when patients checked into the hospital, their personal doctor was still responsible for their care. Those doctors had to go to the hospital to see their patients and be on-call for any questions or emergencies.

That's changed in the past 15 to 20 years. As doctors see more and more patients in their offices, many have less time to make hospital rounds. That's where hospitalists come in.

Hospitalists like Dr. Janai become a patient's doctor while that person is in the hospital, then hand the patient back to their regular private practice doctor when the patient is discharged. (Private practice doctors can still be a patient's primary doctor while a patient is hospitalized, but no longer have to.) Emanuel Medical Center has had staff hospitalists for adult patients for several years.

"The program is very successful at Children's Hospital Central California and we expect it to be just as successful at Emanuel," said Dr. Ralph Diaz, President and Medical Director of SMG.

Studies have found hospitalists improve the quality of patient care. They are more experienced at dealing with sicker patients, have better knowledge of hospital staff and procedures, and provide better instruction and continuity with the nursing staff.

And they also have more time.

"That's very significant," Dr. Janai said. "Because, usually pediatricians are very, very busy in their offices."

That means if a private pediatrician does see a hospitalized patient, he or she has pressure to get back to the office.

"We're here already," Dr. Janai said. "We can spend more time with a patient's family and support them not only medically, but emotionally."

Emanuel sees about 15,000 children in its emergency room a year. The Turlock hospital treats 2,000 children in its inpatient pediatric unit, cares for 250 babies in its neonatal intensive care unit and delivers 3,200 infants.

The medical staff at Emanuel will also benefit.

"This new affiliation will include specific pediatric education for nurses at Emanuel Medical Center," said Haug. "It's another way we deliver great care close to home."