UC Irvine Medical Center to transfer pediatric patients to Children's Hospital of Orange County
Children's Hospital adds beds while some nurses worry that the merge might stretch resources too thin and compromise care.
Over the objection of nurses, the UC Regents on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to transfer most of UC Irvine Medical Center's pediatric unit to nearby Children's Hospital of Orange County.
Although nurses said pediatric services could suffer and tax already overstretched resources, both UC Irvine and Children's Hospital officials touted the "strategic affiliation" as a partnership that would deliver better services to patients.
"Orange County's children and families will see far-reaching benefits as the region's top pediatric care institutions create a world-class children's academic health center," David Bailey, UCI's vice chancellor for health affairs, said in a statement.
UCI Medical Center will eliminate its 25 licensed pediatric beds and convert them into beds for adults. Its eight-bed pediatric intensive care unit will be absorbed into regular intensive care. The neonatal intensive care unit will remain at UCI's hospital in Orange and be beefed up by 16 additional beds.
Children's Hospital has been anticipating the additional patient load. Since October 2007, it has added 30 beds, and plans to add six more in March.
During a presentation to the Regents' health subcommittee Wednesday, Bailey said the change helps the medical center address needs of its patients. Its pediatric beds operated at about 40% of capacity, averaging fewer than 10 patients a day. Children's Hospital averages 162 patients daily, running about 71% of its 232-bed capacity.
Sharon Speck, a pediatric care nurse at UCI Medical Center, said there are benefits to the transfer, including strengthened medical education and research programs. But Speck said she has serious concerns about the care for trauma patients, particularly the young children.
"Pediatric patients, especially the critically ill ones that are trauma patients, need specialized care," Speck said. "Children are not just small adults. Their anatomy is different. The way they metabolize drugs is different. The dosage is different. . . . Right now, we give very great quality care and I'm just afraid that's going to be diminished when you start taking away the people who are pediatric specialists."
UCI Medical Center plans to keep 10 full-time pediatric intensive care nurses. Other staff will be able to work at the children's hospital or move into adult patient care. The shift will take place in early 2009.
Yoshino is a Times staff writer.
kimi.yoshino@latimes.com
