Commonwealth Health is creating a Pediatric Center of Excellence at Moses Taylor Hospital to strengthen northeastern Pennsylvania’s medical resources for children. As part of this initiative, infants, children and adolescents admitted as patients to Moses Taylor Hospital will soon have onsite access to care from Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital pediatricians.
The service is the result of a new pediatric hospitalist agreement between Moses Taylor and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Under the agreement, Moses Taylor’s pediatric unit will be staffed by Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital pediatric hospitalists, physicians who specialize in the care of acutely ill infants, children and adolescents. At the same time, planning is under way for an investment to double the size of the pediatric unit at Moses Taylor from eight beds to 16 all-private rooms.
“This relationship brings new expertise that will help us provide hospitalized children with high quality medical care,” said Dr. Stanley Blondek, chair of pediatrics at Moses Taylor Hospital. “Penn State Hershey is well known for their depth of pediatric specialties, and we are pleased to work with them to make these services available in our community.”
By August, newly recruited Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital pediatric hospitalists will begin working closely with primary care providers and other pediatric specialists to care for children hospitalized at Moses Taylor Hospital. They will also be available to consult with the Moses Taylor Hospital emergency department.
“As a leading provider of specialized care for Pennsylvania’s injured and sick children, our goal is provide the highest quality of pediatric care to patients and families as close to home as possible,” said Dr. Craig Hillemeier, chair of pediatrics and vice dean for clinical affairs, Penn State Hershey Medical Center. “Through this new relationship we can complement the outstanding care provided by Commonwealth Health and extend the renowned services of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital so that no child needs to leave their home region for care of chronic, complex or even life-threatening health conditions.”
Also as part of the agreement, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital will work with Moses Taylor to determine the future needs for other pediatric subspecialties to serve the Scranton area. Access to specialty care is already expanding with the addition of pediatric cardiologist Dr. Michele P. Monaco, who is seeing patients at his Scranton clinic.
Moses Taylor Hospital CEO Justin Davis said the hospital’s new Center of Excellence and relationship with Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital is indicative of Commonwealth Health’s commitment to bring area residents a superior level of care.
“Moses Taylor is proud to serve the entire Scranton community, especially its youngest patients,” said Davis. “This is a natural progression as we continue to grow our commitment to quality pediatric care in the region.”
As part of the development of the Commonwealth Health Pediatric Center of Excellence, Regional Hospital of Scranton will continue to provide outpatient pediatric surgical services and will have a transfer agreement with Moses Taylor Hospital for any medical or surgical pediatric patients.