MEET THE PATIENT For one Beaufort family, the Pediatric Infusion Center at Children’s Hospital of Greenville Health System (GHS) is worth the drive.
An Infusion of Home “We wanted a place that was child-centered, and I like that it has a lot of things geared toward kids,” Cynthia Mills said. “Everything is bright and colorful, and the nurses are very kidfriendly and personable.” Kacy has had five infusions at Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Infusion Center, and she feels strongly about it, too. “I really like it because the nurses are very personable,” Kacy stated. “They talk to you like you’ve known them forever.”
Capacity Doubles Not long ago, Children’s Hospital expanded its existing infusion area in the Pediatric Gastroenterology office at the system’s Patewood Medical Campus. Now, the Pediatric Infusion Center is housed at Cross Creek Medical Park (across from Children’s Hospital) and includes eight beds—double the previous capacity. The center serves patients from infants to age 18 and features dedicated staff to make the experience smooth and enjoyable.
Kacy Mills had been having digestive troubles for about two years when she connected with GHS Children’s Hospital in October 2015. The 12-year-old from Beaufort, S.C., had visited a pediatric gastroenterologist close to home, but she and mother Cynthia Mills weren’t happy with the experience. A family friend recommended Liz Dancel, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist with GHS Children’s Hospital. Dr. Dancel diagnosed Kacy with Crohn’s disease, which led to a treatment plan involving Remicade infusions every five weeks. The family brought Kacy to Greenville for the infusions, despite more than a three-hour drive each way.
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“More and more, medications are being developed that are specifically targeted to parts of the immune system, and those often are delivered as an IV medication,” explained Jonathan Markowitz, MD, MSCE, medical director for the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology. “Having a dedicated center where the nursing staff has familiarity with these medications and also has familiarity with how to work with pediatric patients in terms of putting in IVs and keeping patients entertained is a valuable resource.” The Pediatric Infusion Center provides services for patients with a range of conditions, although the BI-LO Charities Children’s Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital has its own infusion space as well. The expansion was a welcome relief for many patients and physicians. Sarah Payne-Poff, MD, medical director of Children’s Hospital’s relatively new Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, said some of her patients were being admitted to the hospital for infusion treatments because of the lack of outpatient space.