As the only nationally ranked, comprehensive children’s hospital in the Sacramento region, UC Davis Children’s Hospital is uniquely positioned to care for children with critical care needs, including children with COVID-19.
Satyan Lakshminrusimha, physician-in-chief at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
Here are just a few examples of the ways the team is prepared:
- Labor and Delivery has an assessment and treatment protocol to care for mothers who have or are suspected to have COVID-19.
- New visitation policy limits the spread of infection.
- All pediatric areas are equipped with protective equipment for hospital personnel.
- All postpartum rooms can be converted to negative pressure rooms to accommodate mothers who have given birth and are suspected of carrying the COVID-19 virus.
- The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has an isolation room, if any babies who test positive for COVID-19 require intensive care.
- The pediatric floor has negative pressure rooms for children with COVID-19.
- The Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit meets regularly and can provide advanced respiratory care, including extracorporeal life support (ECLS), to children with severe respiratory failure, a potential outcome of COVID-19.
- The Children’s Surgery Center is prepared to provide surgical services as needed for children with COVID-19.
- The dedicated pediatric infectious diseases team is available each day to offer infection prevention expertise.
- Medical and nursing leaders of all pediatric inpatient units meet daily.
“From what we know so far, children are less likely to develop severe COVID-19, following infection with the novel coronavirus, compared to older adults. But we are taking this virus very seriously across our hospital,” said Satyan Lakshminrusimha, physician-in-chief at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “We are proud that our children’s hospital team has been working together and is ready to care for children with COVID-19 and support families through this crisis.”
