In February, WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals cut the ribbon on a brand-new Inpatient Pediatric Unit at Thomas Memorial Hospital. As the lead hospitalist for pediatric inpatient services, I am thrilled about this new Unit, which serves patients 18 and under and provides 24-hour comprehensive pediatric care.

An extension of WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, this new Unit gives patients in the Kanawha Valley and throughout southern West Virginia access to WVU Medicine Children’s services close to home, along with easier access to the specialty and sub-specialty services available in Morgantown. The Unit includes all private rooms, each with sleeping accommodations that allow a parent or guardian to stay overnight with their child.

Our pediatric physicians and nurses have extensive pediatric-specific credentials. Our Unit is led by board-certified physicians, and our team of nurses brings extensive pediatric experience. Most of them are certified in pediatrics, and many of them have been pediatric intensive care unit trained. Together, our nursing team brings a total of 90 combined years of pediatric experience. We treat various health conditions, including common and uncommon acute illnesses, injuries, and chronic diseases, that might require a child to be admitted to the hospital.

We’ve had several patients since the opening of the Unit. Our first patient was Rowen, a five-year-old from Evans, West Virginia. He was admitted after fighting the flu and is a patient of Dr. Ed Childers, a pediatrician at Thomas Hospitals. Rowen’s mother, Kayla, said the care they experienced was like none other and felt supported throughout the night by Rowen’s care team as they were always trying to make him feel more comfortable. We are so appreciative of feedback and hope to continue to hear positive stories from our patients and their families.

The WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals team, under the dynamic leadership of Thomas Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Greg Rosencrance, is committed to increasing access to specialty care for all patients throughout southern West Virginia. The growth we’ve seen at Thomas Hospitals since becoming a member of WVU Medicine has been remarkable. I feel so proud that part of that growth now includes specialized care for our youngest patients.

For more information about pediatric care at Thomas Hospitals, click here.