Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Children's National Medical Center Expand Services for Children and Families

Salisbury, Maryland – Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) and Children's National announce expanded pediatric services for children and families on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Beginning in February 2011, Children's National hospitalists (hospital-based pediatricians) will begin their services and later in spring 2011, Children's National neonatologists (physicians who provide care to premature and sick newborns), will direct and provide care in Peninsula Regional Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Newborn Nursery, the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, and will be available for consultation in the Emergency Department. These Children's National physicians will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

"Our mission challenges us to always look for new opportunities to improve the health of the communities we serve, and to never stop discovering innovative ways to provide better coordinated and more complete care," said Dr. Peggy Naleppa, MS, MBA, FACHE, President/CEO, Peninsula Regional Medical Center. "Teaming with Children's National guarantees Delmarva parents that we are committed to taking our existing pediatric and NICU programs, which are already outstanding, and making them exceptional through this alliance of clinical staff and services."

The collaboration, locally, creates an affiliation with one of the nation's most respected children's healthcare providers. With nearly a century and a half of experience, Children's National will help to ensure that PRMC's pediatric and NICU processes best meet patient needs. Additional benefits include shared clinical knowledge and best practice ideas between the hospitals, possible expansion opportunities based on identified community needs, new research opportunities, physician recruitment improvements, and seamless transfer, when necessary, to the specialized services provided at the main location of Children's National.

Pediatric hospitalists previously employed by PRMC have joined the medical staff at Children's National and will continue to provide care at the Medical Center. Children's National is also providing additional physician coverage. No clinical staff positions at Peninsula Regional were eliminated as a result of the collaboration.

"We applaud the leadership of Peninsula Regional Medical Center for their initiative in considering the needs of children and families on the Delmarva Peninsula," said Edwin K. Zechman, Jr., President and CEO, Children's National Medical Center. "It is a pleasure to partner with enterprising healthcare executives who are proactive on behalf of their communities."

Children's National Medical Center is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the metropolitan Washington, DC area and is the only freestanding children's hospital between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk, and Atlanta. Serving the nation's children for 140 years, Children's National is a proven leader in the development and application of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury. Children's National is ranked consistently among the best pediatric hospitals in America by U.S.News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group, and has received Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Peninsula Regional Medical Center, with 113 years of continuous service, features the Delmarva Peninsula's most experienced healthcare team and is the 6th largest Medical Center, by bed count, in the state of Maryland. HealthGrades, Inc., the nation's leading healthcare ratings organization, awarded Peninsula Regional its Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence Award in 2009 and 2010, ranking it among the top 5 percent of all United States hospitals. The Medical Center also holds the HealthGrades 2010-2011 Women's Health Excellence Award, and a top 5 percent national designation for women's care.

"Children's National is pleased to work with Peninsula Regional Medical Center to enhance pediatric care for children and families throughout the region," said Peter R. Holbrook, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Children's National Medical Center. "Given the level of training required for specialists in pediatrics, and especially in neonatology, the trend is toward collaborations like this one between PRMC and a highly specialized pediatric medical center like Children's National. We are pleased to work together to provide greater benefit for the region's children."

Media contacts:

• Peninsula Regional Medical Center: Roger Follebout or Alissa Carr, Community Relations, 410-543-7139
• Children's National Medical Center: Paula Darte or Emily Dammeyer, Public Relations, 202-476-4500.

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About Peninsula Regional Medical Center:

Peninsula Regional Medical Center offers the widest array of specialty and subspecialty services on the Delmarva Peninsula. It has received nearly 40 national awards, certifications and recognitions over the past five years for the safety and care it provides patients and the outcomes they experience. It's Exceptional Healthcare provided by Exceptional People.

At over 360 acute care beds, 30 transitional care beds and 28 newborn beds, Peninsula Regional is the region's largest, most advanced tertiary care facility, and has been meeting the healthcare needs of Delmarva Peninsula residents since 1897. Its 3,400 physicians, staff and volunteers provide safe, compassionate and affordable care designed to exceed the expectations of the nearly 500,000 patients who rely on the Medical Center team each year for inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, subacute and emergency/trauma services. For additional information, visit www.peninsula.org or follow us on Facebook.