Released by Good Shepherd Health System
LONGVIEW (KYTX) - Good Shepherd Medical Center (GSMC) has become the first hospital in Longview to link its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with expert UT Southwestern neonatologists staffing the Children’s Medical Center – Dallas TeleNICU program. The TeleNICU program enables neonatologists at GSMC to collaborate on the diagnosis and care for GSMC’s tiniest, critically ill newborns.
By bringing Level IV interventional strategies to the patient, rather than having to transfer the patient to another facility, this high tech lifeline for newborns in crisis helps meet the goal of keeping an infant close to home while ensuring the best possible care. It’s always preferable to keep babies close to their families and support systems and avoid the disruption of a medical transfer
“We are delighted that Good Shepherd Medical Center, home to the first NICU in East Texas, is now a TeleNICU affiliate,” said Christi Hawkins, Divisional Director Women’s and Children’s Services Good Shepherd Medical Center. “Both Good Shepherd Medical Center and Children’s Heath share the goal of continuously improving the quality of care to pediatric patients and the TeleNICU program allows both institutions to accomplish that goal.”
Neonatologists and specialized neonatal nurses staffing the 31-bed Level IIIa NICU at GSMC can now connect to Children’s Medical Center - Dallas through a mobile equipment cart that includes medical-quality videoconferencing, secure data transfer and a specialized stethoscope and camera for the physical examination. Neonatologists at GSMC can use the service for a wide range of consults, including interpreting medical data and images, confirming diagnoses and conferring on treatment plans. UT Southwestern neonatologists at Children’s HealthSM Level IV NICU in Dallas are able to virtually examine newborns using specialized cameras and stethoscopes, and view and discuss medical tests with colleagues in real time.
Dr. Christopher Ihionkhan, Medical Director of the NICU at GSMC stated, “The incorporation of this state of the art technology can allow advanced care to begin sooner and may prevent or delay the need for a transfer. The technology also lets parents be part of the care team, joining in on teleconferencing and contributing to decision making.”
