When your child is hospitalized, you want to know they’re in the very best hands. At WVU Medicine Children’s, our team of pediatricians is dedicated to the care of your child. By both caring directly for your child and coordinating the care from multiple subspecialists, we work to help your child heal and return home as quickly as possible.
Understanding the Role of a Pediatric Hospitalist
Pediatric hospital medicine specialists, also called pediatric hospitalists, have extensive training in the unique needs of children admitted to the hospital. They deliver medical care around the clock. Hospitalists treat children of all ages and are involved in many different facets of the hospital and the WVU School of Medicine:
- Acute pediatric illness
- Emergency room consultation
- Newborn nursery
- Education of medical students and residents
- Administration of processes at WVU Medicine Children’s
- Quality improvement and safety
- Research and publication
Our hospitalists work closely with your child’s primary care pediatrician. We keep them updated on your child’s diagnosis, progress, and any follow-up care needed. Our hospitalists also work with a variety of other providers to make sure your child receives the care they need. Being in the hospital can be scary, so we do everything we can to ease your child’s concerns.
In addition to a pediatric hospitalist, your child’s inpatient care team may include:
- Child life specialists
- Pediatric nurses
- Pediatric pharmacists
- Dieticians
- Psychologists
- Rehabilitation therapists
- Social workers
- Subspecialists, such as cardiologists or pulmonologists
- Surgeons, such as general pediatric surgeons, pediatric orthopaedists, and pediatric urologists
Conditions We Treat
There are a variety of health conditions that might require your child to be admitted to the hospital. Our hospitalists have experience caring for common and uncommon acute (sudden) illnesses, injuries, and chronic diseases, including:
- Acute bronchiolitis and other respiratory infections
- Appendicitis and other causes of abdominal pain
- Bone fractures
- Diabetes
- Failure to thrive
- Infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, cellulitis, or meningitis
- Influenza
- Meningitis
- Mental health disorders
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory conditions, such as asthma
- Seizures and other neurologic issues
- Traumatic injuries
Treatments and Services
Our goal is to deliver the very best care while your child is in the hospital. We want to help your child return home and make sure they have a successful recovery afer discharge. Our pediatric hospitalists and inpatient care teams:
- Connect families with home care, support services, and other resources
- Coordinate subspecialty care at WVU Medicine Children’s or your child’s local hospital
- Update your child’s primary care doctor on necessary follow-up care
Resources
If your child is hospitalized, you are invited to explore the services offered at the Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown. Speak with your care coordinator about a referral. Learn more about our partnership with Ronald McDonald House.