MVHS consolidates inpatient pediatrics at Faxton St. Luke’s campus, no staffing impact

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is consolidating inpatient pediatric care to its St. Luke’s campus, effective Friday.

The St. Luke’s campus is part of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH).

MVHS is an affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC), both of Utica. The two organizations teamed up in March 2014.

Staffing at FSLH and SEMC is “not impacted by the consolidation,” MVHS said in a news release issued Wednesday.

“One of the goals of our hospital affiliation is to centralize services and care whenever possible, building on our expertise, and making the best use of our resources,” Scott Perra, president and CEO of MVHS, said. “This consolidation helps us to support improved clinical quality and provide more efficient services for our patients and their families.”

SEMC, the community’s designated trauma center, “will continue” to service trauma incidents that involve children, according to the release.

The facility will triage and treat pediatric patients “where most appropriate,” MVHS added.

If the patient’s condition requires hospitalization, they may remain at SEMC or be transferred to the “appropriate care facility.”

FSLH is the area’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. It uses area donations to enhance care for children in the pediatrics, maternity, and emergency departments, along with outpatient care for hearing and speech; physical and occupational therapy; as well as at the MVHS Medical Group primary-care offices.

FSLH has a 14-bed, “dedicated” inpatient pediatric unit, according to MVHS.

It employs a full time, child-life specialist who provides a “one-on-one relationship” with each child, helping them “work through their fears” of hospitalization and makes the child’s stay “more comfortable,” the release stated.

The facility also has an aquatic-themed room available for children to have tests and procedures done.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com