McLeod Health: Expanding Access to Specialized Care for Children

McLeod Pediatric Subspecialists (left to right): Dr. David Stefik, Dr. Deidre Tyson, Dr. Chad Thornhill and Dr. Al Gilpin

Expanding Access to Specialized Care for Children

Serving more than 56,000 children from the Midlands to the Coast each year, McLeod Children’s Hospital is continually expanding access to highly specialized care for children throughout the region. One of only four children’s hospitals in the state of South Carolina, McLeod Children’s Hospital remains committed to delivering personalized, unrivaled care. Nearly 100 beds at McLeod are devoted to children’s needs, including those in the Children’s Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The hospital also ofers pediatric hospitalists, child life therapy, pediatric subspecialty care, quality pediatricians, pediatric rehabilitation and transport services among others.

• McLeod Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) When a baby arrives prematurely or with serious health issues, a highly specialized team of Neonatologists, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners in addition to nurses, therapists and staf step in to deliver lifesaving care. As a Level III NICU, the highest designation in the region, the McLeod NICU cares for babies less than even one pound. Featuring 48 private rooms, the McLeod NICU provides rooming-in opportunities for families as well as adjoining rooms for families with multiple babies, allowing them to move freely between each room.

• McLeod Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) The region’s only PICU, located at McLeod Regional Medical Center, is designed, stafed and equipped especially for children. McLeod Pediatric Intensivists ofer critical care services for life-threatening illnesses, diseases and injuries in both the McLeod Children’s Hospital and the PICU.

• McLeod Pediatric Hospitalists A specialized team of Pediatric Hospitalists care for children admitted to McLeod Children’s Hospital throughout their entire stay. Pediatric Hospitalists specialize in the care of hospitalized babies and children.

• McLeod Child Life Program The McLeod Child Life Specialist helps reduce anxiety for children who are admitted to the hospital or undergoing a procedure. Using various therapies, the Child Life Specialist focuses on helping the child understand their care plan in an age-appropriate way.

• Pediatric Subspecialists While many communities lack this specialized care, McLeod Children’s Hospital ofers children in the region access to pediatric subspecialists in the fields of cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and orthopedic surgery.

- Pediatric Cardiology Dr. David Steflik cares for patients at McLeod Pediatric Cardiology. He conducts evaluations of murmurs, chest pain, syncope, dizziness, palpitations, hypertension, arrhythmias, failed CCHD screens, cyanosis, exercise intolerance, and any complaint or finding in which there is concern for involvement of the cardiovascular system. Dr. Steflik also follows and treats patients with simple to complex congenital heart disease and acquired heart disease. - Pediatric Endocrinology Dr. Deidre Tyson and Nurse Practitioner Lisa Woodberry serve patients at McLeod Pediatric Endocrinology. They specialize in working with patients and their families to meet the challenges of endocrine (glandular) conditions and concerns. Commonly treated conditions include diabetes and hypoglycemia, pediatric obesity, growth problems (such as short stature), early or delayed puberty, enlarged thyroid gland, pituitary gland dysfunction and more. - Pediatric Gastroenterology Dr. Chad Thornhill serves patients at McLeod Pediatric Gastroenterology. He specializes in digestive, liver and nutritional disorders in children, ranging from lactose intolerance to food allergies, severe or complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatic insufciency and more. - Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Dr. Al Gilpin cares for patients at McLeod Pediatric Orthopedics. He specializes in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal (bone, joint or muscle) problems in children, from newborns to teens. Common conditions treated include limb and spine deformities (scoliosis, club foot, etc.) as well as broken bones, pediatric orthopedic trauma and more. • McLeod Pediatricians McLeod Health ofers the highest level of pediatric care throughout our region with pediatric ofces in Florence, Bennettsville, Cheraw and Dillon. McLeod Pediatricians care for patients from birth until age 18, diagnosing and managing a broad range of childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases. They also coordinate care with other providers at McLeod Children’s Hospital should a child need more specialized care.

• McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation provides children with advanced therapeutic support to help them achieve developmental milestones. The team of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists specialize in pediatric therapeutic care and treatment of developmental delay, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, spina bifida, autism, orthopedic conditions, genetic disorders, muscular dystrophy and neurological conditions.

• McLeod Child Reach Ambulance McLeod Children’s Hospital ofers comprehensive transport services including a specially designated ambulance called Child Reach. This vehicle transports critically-ill children and newborns from community hospitals throughout the region to high-tech, lifesaving care provided at McLeod Children’s Hospital.

For more information, visit McLeodChildrensHospital.org.

McLeod Pediatrician, Dr. Meghan Jordan