SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Marian Regional Medical Center wraps up final accreditation for the highest level of recognition for neonatal and pediatric services from the state of California.
In a news release, MRMC says they are, "proud to announce that the Medical Center's Newborn ICU and Pediatric Services have officially received final accreditation from California Children's Services (CCS), a branch of California Department of Health Services.
The recent CCS accreditation is the highest level of recognition for neonatal and pediatric services, certifying that MRMC has the advanced capabilities to care for the sickest and most vulnerable infants by providing expert physicians, clinical staff and the latest in state-of-the-art equipment and technology. CCS-approved Community Level Centers provide a full range of neonatal and pediatric services (intensive, intermediate and continuing care) for severely ill neonates and infants.
As a CCS-approved facility, CCS and CCS-eligible neonatal/pediatric patients and their families at MRMC will be provided with support services to assist with high risk infant follow up care. The new accreditation will also ensure that babies who need to be transported out of the area will be transported back to MRMC; allowing families to remain with their child on the Central Coast.
"Approximately 10 to 15 percent of all babies born in the United States require treatment in a Newborn ICU and for the small percentage of babies that are transferred out of the area, traveling is an especially difficult hardship for families," explains Edward Alderete, M.D., Medical Director of Neonatology Services at Marian Regional Medical Center. "In times of crisis it is vital for infants, when ready, to be brought back to their local facility in order to keep families together as much as possible."
MRMC's multidisciplinary team of health care professionals meets the stringent educational and skill requirements set by CCS and includes CCS-paneled neonatologists, a clinical nurse specialist, respiratory care practitioners, CCS-paneled medical social workers with experience and practice in neonatal care, CCS-paneled clinical registered dieticians, CCS-paneled occupational therapists and CCS-paneled physical therapists.
"Marian has made a strong commitment to maternal/fetal, infant and pediatric care and has worked diligently to bring expert neonatal and pediatric physicians and specialists to the Medical Center," explains Charles J. Cova, Marian Regional Medical Center President and CEO and Dignity Health Senior Vice President of Operations. "The recent CCS accreditation affirms Marian's ability to provide patients and their families with the highest level of specialized health care and technology for a Newborn ICU and Pediatric Community Hospital."
MRMC opened an eight-bed NICU in December of 2010. The opening of MRMC's new hospital in May of 2012 allowed for expanded services and features a 21-bed NICU and eight-bed Pediatric Unit. MRMC's new hospital features all private patient rooms and the latest in advanced technology. In addition, MRMC continues to recruit highly trained caregivers and expert physicians from the nation's top medical schools and training programs. "
