HOAG Affiliation Enhances Pediatric Care in Coastal Orange County

CHOC and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian have joined forces to enhance and expand pediatric care and services in the coastal Orange County area. Through a formal affiliation agreement with CHOC, Hoag is expanding its pediatric outpatient services, and creating an expedited system of evaluating and transferring critically ill or injured children and infants to CHOC.

"We are delighted that our long-standing relationship with Hoag has resulted in this new, formal affiliation," says CHOC President and CEO Kimberly C. Cripe. "It's important that families in the coastal community receive excellent pediatric medical care by top specialists, and CHOC is proud to partner with Hoag to provide these much-needed pediatric services."

ROBOTIC TELEMEDICINE LINKS HOAG ECU WITH CHOC
Via robotic telemedicine technology, CHOC critical care specialists are available to assist Hoag emergency medicine physicians on a 24-hour basis in the evaluation and care of pediatric patients in the Hoag Emergency Care Unit (ECU).

"The sooner you begin intervention, the more likely you will have a favorable outcome," says Dr. Nick Anas, medical director of the CHOC Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. "Now instead of just being able to talk to the Hoag ECU physicians, we can actually observe the child, talk to the parents and physicians, view vital signs and X-rays, and make treatment recommendations prior to transport." Additionally, other CHOC pediatric subspecialists are available for remote consults using this robotic telemedicine technology.

The CHOC/Hoag affiliation encompasses three additional key areas:

• Dedicated CHOC Emergency Pediatric Transport Services - with a CHOC transport team consisting of a physician, nurse and respiratory therapist.
  
   
• CHOC PSF To Staff, Support Expanded Hoag NICU - the CHOC PSF neonatologists are now providing 24/7 coverage of the Hoag NICU. Their role is to support the growing obstetric and perinatal programs at Hoag Women's Health Services and to manage newborn children with critical illnesses born at Hoag. CHOC will also be providing support and education for the areas that work closely with the newborn services such as respiratory therapy, pharmacy, and dietary and nutrition.
  
   
• New Pediatric Specialty Clinic at Hoag Health Center - a soon-to-be-developed outpatient facility near the Hoag Hospital campus. UrgiKids, an afterhours pediatric urgent care service currently based in Costa Mesa, will also relocate to this new location.