Virginia Hospital Center Partners With Children's National Medical Center

Arlington-Based Hospital Works to Enhance Neonatal Care in Northern Virginia

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Virginia Hospital Center and Children's National Medical Center have entered into a three-year agreement that will enhance specialty neonatology care in Northern Virginia.  The collaboration will result in Children's managing Virginia Hospital Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), effective August 15, 2012.

"We are thrilled to be joining forces with a world class organization such as Children's National Medical Center," said Dr. Jeffrey DiLisi, Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at Virginia Hospital Center.  "The direction and oversight that Children's National will provide adds even greater depth to the outstanding neonatology program that the Arlington Neonatology Group established over ten years ago.  Our tiniest patients will continue to receive the best care with even more advanced medical services and resources available through Children's National."

Children's National will provide clinical services and operations and administrative management of the NICU including, but not limited to, direct patient care, medical record management, and compliance with regional standard of care provision in the pediatric inpatient setting in collaboration with CH Q1 initiatives.  Dr. Billie Lou Short, Division Chief, Neonatology at Children's National, has been named Medical Director of Virginia Hospital Center's NICU. She and her Children's team will oversee management of the unit's daily activities.  The Children's National neonatology team was recently ranked 6^th in the country by U.S. News & World Report, which consistently ranks the Children's National neonatology team in the top ten.    

"Arrangements like this make it possible for families to get expert care closer to home," said David Wessel, MD, Senior Vice President, Hospital-Based Specialties, Children's National. "We are pleased to work with Virginia Hospital Center to enhance care for their patients and families."

Virginia Hospital Center's NICU is a Level 3B and can care for babies at and above 24 weeks gestational age.  Approximately 10 percent of babies born at Virginia Hospital Center require NICU care. The medical capabilities of Level 3B include providing a higher level of respiratory support for babies requiring high-frequency ventilation with an oscillator, and providing nitric oxide for babies in need of help to circulate blood with higher levels of oxygen.  Babies requiring surgery would be transferred to a medical facility with pediatric surgical specialists and/or subspecialists that best fit the needs of the patient and family.

The recent renovation of the Hospital's Women & Infant Health Unit included a $1.2 million overhaul of the NICU, featuring 16 suites.  Each suite is kept quiet with soundproofed flooring and ceiling tiles, and features comfortable leather chairs that flatten into beds, and specialized chairs for breastfeeding.

"With this commitment to family centered care, Virginia Hospital Center has made delivery and care for newborns a comfortable experience for families and their fragile newborns," said Dr. Short. "We have a long track record of providing research-based best practices in care at Children's National, for which we have been recognized by our peers nationwide. We look forward to working with the neonatal-perinatal team members at Virginia Hospital Center making expert care available to families closer to home."

About Children's National Medical Center:
Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Home to Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group. Children's National is a Magnet® designated hospital. With 303 beds and eight regional outpatient centers, Children's National is a premier provider of acute pediatric services in the Washington metropolitan area. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Virginia Hospital Center:
For over 60 years, Virginia Hospital Center has provided exceptional medical services to the Washington metropolitan area. Virginia Hospital Center is a 342-bed, $150 million state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive healthcare and multiple Centers of Excellence including Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery, the Reinsch Pierce Family Center for Breast Health, Neuroscience, Oncology, Total Joint Replacement (hip and knee), Women & Infant Health and Urology. Growing service lines include Executive Health and the only Lung Cancer Center in northern Virginia. Virginia Hospital Center is a teaching hospital, long-associated with Georgetown University's School of Medicine, and accredited by The Joint Commission and Licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health.  For additional information, please visit www.virginiahospitalcenter.com.

About Dr. Billie Lou Short:
Dr. Short graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed her residency and fellowship at Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital and Children's National Medical Center, respectively. Dr. Short is internationally recognized for her work on neonatal respiratory failure and its treatments.

SOURCE Virginia Hospital Center