Some of the reasons why WVU Berkeley Medical Center is adding to its neonatal intensive-care unit have as much to do with the distance from Martinsburg to Morgantown as they do with improving service in the unit.
Since the unit opened in 2014, more than 500 babies have been treated, Anthony P. Zelenka, the hospital’s president and CEO, said Monday at a brief unveiling ceremony for the unit’s new sign.
Zelenka said the Martinsburg hospital delivers about 1,000 babies a year. Another 300 are delivered at WVU Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson, W.Va.
If a baby needs treatment above the level offered at Martinsburg’s neonatal intensive-care until, he or she is transported to Morgantown or another large hospital in the region.
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Parents now can now go to Berkeley Medical Center and avoid making long drives to be with their babies.
Parents also have peace of mind knowing that if their newborn needs special attention, he or she is being taken care of close to home.
There also is a camera system that lets them keep tabs on their babies on cellphones if they can’t be with them, hospital spokeswoman Teresa McCabe said.
The number of rooms in the Martinsburg unit will double to eight once an administrative wing is converted.
“The quality of our care will also be enhanced,” Zelenka said.
Some babies stay in the unit for several months until they are well enough to go home, said Dr. Panitan Yossuck, the unit’s medical director.
Parents are encouraged to stay with their babies and sleep in the same room, he said. The number of those rooms also will increase, he said.
“Top quality physicians from Morgantown regularly bring their specialties to Martinsburg,” he said. “Some stay a week at at time. Our doctors also rotate to Morgantown.”
In addition to the rotation, physicians can communicate electronically between Morgantown and Martinsburg on a TeleHealth system, McCabe said.
WVU Children’s Medicine in Morgantown is the umbrella agency over neonatal care at WVU medical centers and hospitals across the state, said Dr. Tiffany Guglielmo-Roxy, chief of pediatrics at the Martinsburg hospital.
Date: Oct 23,2017