AHN Wexford Hospital Pediatric Services Playing an Integral Role in Children’s Health

By Janice Lane Palko

“This was the worst season for respiratory illness since 2009, when we experienced the

swine flu pandemic,” said Evelina Krieger, M.D., Director of Inpatient Pediatric Services

at Wexford Hospital. “Influenza A was the first to appear, and that was followed by

respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. Then we had a late arrival of Influenza B. Many of the

area hospitals were over-run with patients, and fortunately, we were able to step in and

step up to treat many pediatric patients.”

In the fall of 2023, AHN Wexford Hospital expanded its Pediatric Services to provide

cutting-edge medical care in a family- and child-friendly setting. On staff are five full-time

Pediatric Hospitalists, which is a sub-specialty where doctors only see children in a

hospital setting. They provide care 24-7, year-round.

“In addition to the pediatric hospitalists, we have a team of nurses experienced in

pediatrics,” said Karla Mackowski, MSN, RN, Nurse Manager, Pediatrics, who said they

treat children from newborn to 18 years, and are able to treat common pediatric

illnesses, asthma, pneumonia, dehydration and sports injuries, and they can also

provide IV antibiotics and oxygen.

All rooms at AHN are private rooms. Pediatric patients who require an overnight stay,

whether from orthopaedics, ENT, or as the result of a visit to the emergency room, AHN

Wexford is prepared to accommodate pediatric needs. The hospital accommodates two

surgical lines – Orthopaedics and ENT as well as being able to admit patients directly

from the Emergency Department.

“The Emergency Department is geared to treating children and is very competent at

placing pediatric IVs, and we have a Child Life Specialist on staff as well to facilitate that

your child has the best treatment and experience while here,” said Ms. Mackowski.

Children can be admitted either through the Emergency Department or by their own

pediatrician requesting admittance.

This winter with the outbreak of respiratory illnesses, Wexford Hospital stepped up their

pediatric services to treat the children presenting in the ED. “We don’t usually provide

intermediate care modalities, but we instituted increased respiratory support such as

high-flow nasal cannula for the significantly ill children,” said Dr. Krieger, who noted that

their six inpatient beds were able to accommodate the children to a good outcome.

“Most of the children treated spent 1-4 days in the hospital.”

Everything about Wexford’s Pediatric Services was designed and planned with purpose.

Nearby is a playroom, and a Physical and Occupational Therapy gym. The space also

offers the Make Room for Kids program, an extension of the Lemieux Foundation’s

Austin’s Playroom Project. This gives patients access to gaming and other multimedia

resources during their hospital stay.

Even the food served was created with children in mind. “We have a pediatric menu and

can accommodate special diets, among them vegan, kosher, gluten-free as well as

allergy-free items,” said Ms. Mackowski.

AHN Wexford Hospital also has a Neurodivergent Adaptive Care Program. “It is

estimated that 15% of kids have some neurodivergence, and we can make notes in the

child’s EPIC file to address that and offer decreased stimulation or increased—whatever

the child needs,” said Dr. Krieger.

“We have a four-foot lighted bubble tube with fiber optic lights that helps to distract and

calm the children,” said Ms. Mackowski. “We are so proud of this space and the care we

provide.”

Wexford’s Pediatric Services has consistently received excellent ratings from patient

satisfaction scores and from Press Ganey, a survey that helps health care organizations

assess their patients’ satisfaction, which is all well and good, but when you get excellent

feedback from parents and children who have been treated there, that carries even

more importance.

For more information about AHN Wexford Hospital and its Pediatric Services, visit the

website at: www.ahn.org/locations/hospitals/wexford