LG Health Opens New Pediatric Inpatient Center at Lancaster General Hospital

The new 17-bed Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center at Lancaster General Hospital will open to patients on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The new Pediatric Inpatient Center is a beautifully designed, child-friendly space for children, with family-centered comforts and amenities, state-of-the-art technology, and unique services that will significantly enhance the patient experience and make a hospital stay less stressful and disruptive to children and parents. The 20,000-sq.-ft. center occupies the entire fourth floor of the LGH Frederick Building, enabling 300 additional families a year to remain close to home for high-quality pediatric care.

“We look forward to providing the most optimal health-care experience possible for the children of our community,” said Jan Bergen, President and CEO of LG Health. “The new state-of-art Pediatric Inpatient Center will help provide a comforting space for children and their families as they go through a difficult time.”

The new Pediatric Inpatient Center includes:

• Large private rooms
• Family support, including sleeping accommodations, meditation and personal computer work space, a kitchenette, shower, and laundry facilities
• The Ronald McDonald Hospitality Kiosk creates a welcoming environment, offering nourishing snacks, drinks, health and beauty aids, small activities and a place of respite for families
• Expanded family waiting area and an activity zone for children and teens to relax and enjoy age-appropriate, interactive entertainment options
• Interactive environmental elements that incorporate STEM themes in play walls and in-room activity

The Pediatric Inpatient Center staff is experienced and specially trained to treat the needs of children. LG Health’s pediatric partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) enhances expertise and ensures a high level of care, with the ability to coordinate with doctors throughout LG Health and CHOP. The Center is staffed by CHOP hospitalists—physicians who care for patients exclusively in a hospital setting—and a team of pediatric-certified nurses with additional specialized education.

The Child Life Program, launched on the previous LGH pediatric unit in November 2018, continues to expand. With nearly 21,000 pediatric visits to the LGH Emergency Department and pediatric unit each year, Child Life Specialists are now available in both locations to support children and families.

“Child Life Specialists focus on reducing stress for children and families during a hospital stay,” said Michelle Schori, Executive Director of Pediatrics at LG Health. “The program provides opportunities to engage children in normal day-to-day activities, support their development and improve their ability to cope with the hospital experience.”

All Child Life specialists are bachelors or masters trained professionals with a certification in Child Life. Their role includes:

• Providing age-appropriate play and other activities that encourage mastery, coping and expression of feelings for both patients and siblings of patients.
• Increasing familiarity with hospital surroundings and preparing children and families for medical experiences
• Developing supportive relationships with patients and family members
• Offering orientation to new experiences, such as a surgical procedure
• Working closely with the family and with the health care team to minimize the stress of a hospital stay

The Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center represents a significant investment in the community and by the community, which contributed more than $9.5 million toward the unit and its services. LG Health’s pediatric services also include neonatal intensive care, pediatric primary care, outpatient specialty care, and inpatient care, in partnership with world-renowned Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a leader in patient care and research.

LG Health pediatric-care services continue to expand throughout Lancaster County. The health system has established the presence of integrated counselors at every primary care practice, including Roseville Pediatrics, to address patients' mental-health needs. Additionally, the Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, jointly run by Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and Universal Health Services, recently opened its 16-bed adolescent unit.