University Medical Center at Princeton (princetonhcs) is enhancing its pediatric services at all levels -- emergency, inpatient and neonatal intensive care -- through a new agreement with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

CHOP, one of the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world, is ranked first overall in the nation in Parents magazine's February 2009 Best Children's Hospitals issue, as well as tops in a number of specific areas in the study, including emergency medicine and neonatology. CHOP also was ranked first nationally among pediatric hospitals for the sixth consecutive year in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report.

Beginning this summer, physicians and other health professionals from CHOP will provide services for children at UMCP as part of CHOP Pediatric Care at UMCP (Pediatric Unit) and CHOP Newborn Care at UMCP (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

CHOP will provide pediatric hospitalists on-site 24/7 to care for children and adolescents who are admitted to UMCP's Pediatric Unit. The hospitalists also will provide pediatric consultation to the Emergency Department and the Well Baby Nursery, as well as administer sedation to children if needed.

"CHOP Pediatric and Newborn Care at UMCP is a very exciting development for us and the children and families we serve," says Barry S. Rabner, President and CEO, Princeton HealthCare System. "It is the result of a great deal of hard work by many physicians and administrators at both institutions. I would especially like to thank Dr. Louis Tesoro, Chairman of Pediatrics at Princeton HealthCare System, for his leadership and commitment throughout the process."

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work with UMCP to extend exceptional pediatric care to families closer to their homes, in their own communities," says Madeline Bell, Executive Vice President and COO, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We are looking forward to working closely with the pediatricians who care for children in the central New Jersey region."

The new pediatric hospitalist program is intended to support the work of pediatricians currently on staff at PHCS, who will have the option of either caring for their own patients in the Pediatric Unit, or transferring care of their patients to the CHOP pediatric hospitalist.

In addition, CHOP will provide board certified neonatologists to provide care in the NICU and to attend high-risk deliveries as requested.

All PHCS physicians and employees who care for children will have access to the educational services, programs and resources of CHOP's Education Programs, as well as educational programs offered by UMCP. CHOP will also provide PHCS with consultation on timely pediatric issues (i.e., the development of pediatric facilities, enhancing family-centered care, etc.) on an intermittent basis.

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