RISING TO OUR
RESPONSIBILITY:
WHAT THE HUBBARD CENTER MEANS FOR CHILDREN Construction is progressing ahead of schedule on Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s Hubbard Center for Children. The foundation is set. Steel has been erected. The skeleton of future floors stands tall and bare, overlooking one of Omaha’s busiest corridors. But running parallel to the rising up of the physical infrastructure is a deeper, more human theme that swells: an organization rising up to the challenge – and the responsibility – of meeting the health needs of its region’s smallest and sickest children.
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FIRST IN THE WORLD
FOR CHILDREN CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION IMPROVES CARDIAC CARE In less than four seconds, the massive robotic arm does a smooth 360-degree spin around the operating table, capturing precise 3D images of a baby’s heart that is the size of a walnut. This cutting-edge choreography has the power to unlock answers to some of the most complex pediatric cardiac cases, and it has made its debut in Omaha. “State-of-the-art” seems like an understatement; Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s new heart catheterization labs boast a robotic imaging system that is the first of its kind in a pediatric setting worldwide. Manufactured by Siemens Healthineers, they call it the ARTIS pheno. Because Children’s is the first pediatric hospital to take advantage of the technology, its specialists will be defining the techniques for labs that follow. “We’re positioning ourselves to become one of the premier programs in the country,” explains Jeff Delaney, M.D., Children’s director of interventional cardiology. “We’ve had a good reputation for the last 25 years, and now we’re also recognized not just as a place that does good work, but as a real leader with an exciting program.” For the very smallest and sickest hearts (and the hearts of those who love them), the new labs are a global game-changer.
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ANESTHESIA WHISPERS,
LOVE SHOUTS ENSURING FAMILY LOVE AND REASSURANCE ECHOES IN THE OPERATING ROOM
“Be brave. I love you, sweet girl.” The notes are beautiful in their simplicity… “You are in great hands, baby.” …and, against the backdrop of their backstories, incredibly powerful. “You are very strong and brave, and I’ll see you in a little bit.” A 3x5 notecard + a short message in crayon + a few stickers carefully placed here and there. “Mommy loves you oodles and oodles, Noodles.” Behind each hand-written sentiment – each nickname, each expression of love, each hope – are parents whose child is facing the anxiety of surgery. “Remember that God is with you and He will never leave you. I hope you have sweet, sweet, super sweet dreams.”
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“ALL WE WANT TO DO – THE NURSES, THE PHYSICIANS, THE CARE PARTNERS – IS TAKE GREAT CARE OF KIDS.” Kaitlyn Pellegrino, M.D.
Board-certified Pediatric Anesthesiologist
“As children have their vital signs obtained before surgery, they get to see these colorful, encouraging messages and they experience a sense of camaraderie right away. Sometimes the children read the messages from other families’ donated cards out loud, and it’s really fun to see them respond to these words of affirmation. They don’t feel alone,” Dr. Weaver says. Addison, who is “doing great,” chose to bring her card home and still has it. “It definitely meant a lot to her,” Nemec says. As far as Dr. Pellegrino knows, this program is unique to Children’s – but maybe not for long: “I have friends working in other hospitals who say, ‘I want to do that at my hospital or that’s something we should be doing.” Anesthesia Whispers, Love Shouts – and when love shouts, it also echoes. “It’s one of the things that makes Children’s so wonderful – we have a lot of highly trained people, a lot of specialists, and at the end of the day, all we want to do – the nurses, the physicians, the care partners – is take great care of kids,” says Dr. Pellegrino. “That commitment echoes throughout the halls of Children’s.”
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