Department of Pediatrics Heralds Opening of New McMullen Children's Center

On April 5th, the Department of Pediatrics officially opened its new state-of-the- art $8 million John and Jacqueline McMullen Children's Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The new Children's Center provides enhanced, centralized care for young patients. The Medical Center cares for more pediatric patients than any other hospital in New Jersey and the new Children s Center helps to meet all of their needs.

The opening of the new Childrens Center allows our physicians in the Department of Pediatrics to continue to provide the best possible medical care and hospital experience for our pediatric patients and their families, says John Bonamo, M.D., M.S., Executive Director of Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

The construction project is supported by Todd Christie and Theresa Christie, the Goldring family, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and additional benefactors. In recognition of their support, the 30-bed 4300 Unit has been named The Christie Family Pediatric General Care Unit. The 4200 Unit, which includes 10 intensive care beds and 10 step-down beds, has been named The Goldring Family Pediatric Special Care Unit. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which provides care to critically ill infants and children, has been named The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, in honor of their $500,000 grant.

Previously located on separate floors, both the general care unit, the PICU along with the new Alicia Rose Victorious Teen Room and a Welcome Center/Reception Area, are housed within the Center, bringing services, such as a satellite pharmacy, closer to patients. The new unit also includes child-friendly patient rooms, state-of-the-art nursing stations, new treatment and exam rooms and a child-friendly playroom.

For additional information about any of our pediatric programs or services, please call the Pediatric Specialty Center at
(973) 322-7600 or our Physician Referral Service at
1-888-SBHS-123.

Expansion for The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey PICU
Through the generous support of the Goldring family, the new Goldring Family Pediatric Special Care Unit was created to centralize critical care services for infants and children. With the support of The Health Care Foundation of New Jersey, the PICU has been relocated within the Special Care Unit. Its new location brings the vital services needed for critically ill children to the Pediatric Center.

Comprised of 10 intensive care beds, the PICU offers the latest technologies and equipment to provide intensive monitoring and care. The glass walls that enclose each room allow maximum visibility of the patients by nurses. PICU rooms are equipped with advanced monitoring equipment in a column that descends from the ceiling, as opposed to a regular headwall, to allow physicians and nurses 360 degree access to the patient. This equipment is capable of invasive monitoring such as internal blood pressure and cerebral pressure. The Unit also has a new playroom that was created specifically for PICU and step-down patients to minimize the risk of infection.

New Teen Room Opens at Saint Barnabas
With the help of a foundation created by the parents of a teen, Saint Barnabas Medical Center is pleased to announce the opening of the new Alicia Rose Victorious Teen Room for hospitalized adolescents. The teen room features a 42-inch plasma television, DVD players and a library of videos, two computers and a mega gaming system. In 2002, Alicia Rose DiNatale died at the age of 17 of a rare form of cancer. Alicia wanted to create a place in hospitals that would be welcoming for teens and their families. The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation has subsequently funded new teen centers in several hospitals nationally, including Saint Barnabas