LANCASTER – Antelope Valley Hospital has entered into a partnership with Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA for inpatient neonatal and pediatric services, hospital officials announced this week.
The chief of pediatrics and medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at AVH said the partnership expands the neonatal and pediatric sub-specialty care available at the hospital, including such treatments as total body cooling, a therapy that may prevent or minimize the consequences of brain injury in newborns.
“Babies who are born or diagnosed with a very serious condition can now receive the complex level of care they need, right here in our community,” Dr. Murugesa Thangavel said. “As neonatal medicine continues to evolve, I am proud to say that the capabilities of our NICU have continued to evolve, too, from two rooms in 1985 to 21 licensed beds today.”
As part of the agreement, 10 UCLA board-certified neonatologists are assigned to AVH, and at least one is on call 24/7 at the area’s only full-service hospital.
In addition, three board-certified pediatric hospitalists are available to provide specialized inpatient medical care and emergency room consultations for well newborns, as well as sick or injured infants and children.
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actuallyinformed says
I am surprised that AV Hospital is just now announcing this. AV has had UCLA pediatricians and neonatologists practicing here for several months.
Yolanda Bergstrom says
Agree with Stacy. I had to drive in to LA just to get a cast on my 4 year old as well qs all follow up care. Dont get me wrong, the Orthapedic Institute for Children is a wonderful place with gentle and caring staff, but we need them here In the AV.
Stacy says
This is fantastic but we still need more! We need other pediatric specialists, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists. We need to be able to diagnose and treat locally and not have to airlift our kids to LA to get the care they need.