Children Get Special Treatment

At Christmas, there are icicles and toy soldiers hanging from the ceiling. In the fall, it was leaves fluttering in the breeze. Nurses wear colorful tops and greet children with warm smiles. A playroom is heaped with toys and Big Bird stands by the door. “We do all we can to reassure children that they are coming to a friendly place where everyone cares very much about them,” says Ruth Billett, head nurse in pediatrics. “There’s a^ lot of holding and touching by nurses who have chosen this special area because they Tove kids'. We never prop a bottle here,"sheadds. Parents are encouraged to stay w’ith their children throughout the day. One parent may remain through the night. Lounging chairs that convert to cots are set up in the room. Separation is. the greatest fear for most children so this isvery important. If a parent cannot stay and a child becomes upset, nurses will call the family to suggest that someone come in... Teddy bears and an honest approach take away some of the fear of pain and the unknow n. When nurses operate on a stuffed animal, children often find the whole process less scary. Explaining procedures that will hurt a litt/e before they are done is also helpful. / The pediatric unit was new in 1980. Three beds can be viewed from the nurses' station. Serious and/isolated cases are placed in those areas. Each room has windows to allow nurses to view children from the hall. Besides a large and colorful play/oom, there is a room for parents to relax. There is also a treatment room. Rocking chairs are part of the ^standard equipment, alon| with njonitors to track cardiac andTespiratory functions. “To care for children effectively, you need a combination of skill, technology, patience, and understanding,” says Mrs. Billett. “This unit has a family feel.”

New Resources for Cate

Jun'g-Shung Wang, M.D.

Jung-Shung Wong. M.D. woi the first pediatric specialist to join the staff twelve years ago. "At that time most severely ill or injured children were given immediate attention ond then transported to Philadelphia Children's Hospital or St. .Christophers Hospital also in Philadelphia. We still work cooperatively with these specialized facilities.«but we are now able to core for more children here, closer to home." he reports. He says the change is due to modern new facilities and equipment, a larger fully certified pediatric staff, as well os the traditional fine nursing care* Dr Wong received his medical education a! the National Taiwan University Medical College. He servpd o fellowship m neo notology at Jersey City Medical Centef Dr Wong is certified by the American Board Of Pediatrics

Chaltherm Sunhachawee. M.D.. a pediatrician is known here os Dr. Sun. He joined the staff in 1977. He too notes that more children are now being treated close to their homes. We will soon have a Criticon Wor computerized monitoring of blnotf ■■■snire-^ulse^md ^niration. We will Simply place a cuff on o baby or child, he expjains.^to’' get an instant and continuous readout on his or her vital signs. With this equipment and the new CAT Scanner, our resources for the care of the severely injured child will be further enhanced. Dr Sun received his medical education at Mohidol University' Bangkok. Thailand. He served a fellowship in in fectious diseases ot Jersey City Medical Center Dr Sun is certified by the American Board of Pediptrics.

Mary Ann Haflin. M.D.. has a family practice. The only local physician with this typ, ol specialty who delivers hies, she soys it is because she enjoys caring for the mother and then later', the whole (amity Someday. I look torword to delivering the next generation." she soys. Dr Haflin is very excited about the changes that hove brought new specialists and modern technology to Cope Moy County, and she soys her colleagues share her en thusiosm. We all want the best for our patieqts ond so we celebrate the new resources for health care. Now when a consultation or CAT Scon is needed we do not hove to tend our patients miles away to get it. Dr Haflin received her M.D. from the Medical College of v ° n ' c an< * t * 1en come "home ’ to practice in Nortb^-— Wildwood She is board certified in family practice.