Compassionate Care for Children

Baptist Children’s Hospital at North Central (BCH)

The NICU teams that care for families are extensive and include – a NICU physician, nurse, respiratory therapist,
physical therapist, speech therapist, pharmacist, chaplain and social worker.

By Amy Morgan

F or parents, there is nothing more important than

the wellbeing, health and safety of their children.
From birth and throughout a child’s life, knowing
Reyburn said. Parents can feel confident that their
newest family member will be in the capable hands
of experienced, highly qualified medical professionals.
where to go when the unexpected happens can Neonatal care begins in the delivery room, where
provide great peace of mind. That’s why the Baptist a resuscitation team stands by every high-risk
Children’s Hospital at North Central (BCH) is ready pregnancy in case immediate intervention is required.
to provide expert care for newborns and children
experiencing illness or injury when an emergency “We are prepared if mom has pre-eclampsia or
happens. diabetes,” Dr. Reyburn said. “If the baby’s heart
rate slows and we need to do an emergency
Highest Level NICU for Newborn Care C-section, our team of specially trained nurses and
Should a problem arise during the birth of a child, the neonatologists are available 24 hours a day."
72-bed Level IV Neonatal ICU at Baptist Children’s
Hospital provides the highest level of care available
in San Antonio. The NICU is staffed 24 hours a
day, seven days a week by in-house board-certified
neonatology physicians. Brent Reyburn, D.O.,
M.S., NICU Medical Director, has led the hospital’s
neonatology department for the past two years.
Dr. Reyburn spearheads a comprehensive team of
five neonatology specialty doctors, as well as nurse
practitioners, physical, occupational and respiratory
therapists to take care of the tiniest and sickest
babies.

“We provide a complete complement of subspecialty

team members who are all pediatrics trained,” Dr.
Any baby born at less than 35-weeks gestation
automatically is admitted to the NICU, Dr. Reyburn
said. Babies younger than one month who need
medical attention in the emergency room are also
sent straight to the NICU. Other reasons a newborn
might land in the NICU include those with respiratory
problems who need help breathing, complications
from a multiple birth or babies who are unable to
feed well by mouth.
A big concern for parents is being able to spend time
with their newborn if the baby is admitted to the
NICU. At BCH, parents don’t have to be separated
from their baby. Even if the mother is discharged,
BCH has special rooms for families so that they
can stay together. Perhaps baby is weaning off
of a monitor or will be released with complicated
equipment. The family can room together, while
receiving helpful information and education under the
watchful eyes of the neonatal nurses.
Parents also benefit from the experiences of others
who have walked in their shoes. The Parent Council
stocks a NICU family lounge with snacks, crafts and
games for siblings, gifts, and hot meals. “Graduated”
parents share wisdom learned through their
experiences. Parent Council lead volunteer Christine
Garza remembers how she felt when her now four-
year-old twins spent four months in the NICU after
being born at 23 weeks.
“This great group of former NICU parents answered
questions and gave me hope. They reassured me that
the girls were getting the best possible care and that
we were going through something very temporary,”
Garza said. “The NICU staff is the heartbeat of the
hospital. They provide the best possible bedside
manner and calming energy in a time of crisis. They
are just superheroes!”
Pediatric Emergency Services
BCH’s Pediatric Emergency room features pediatric
specialists trained to handle pediatric illness and
injury for newborns to 17 years old. “BCH is located
right in Stone Oak’s own back yard, but it offers the
same care and subspecialty support as facilities in
the medical center,” said Adam Gibbs, MPA, BAAS, LP,
Administrator for all Baptist Health System emergency
rooms.
Children experiencing asthma attack, uncontrollable
nausea/diarrhea, migraine, fainting, acute ear or
abdominal pain, seizure, broken bone or fever of
unknown cause will be seen by board-certified
pediatric emergency room personnel supported by
pediatric subspecialty physicians in eight different
fields – everything from gastroenterology to
neurology. While any time waiting with a hurting
child can seem like an eternity to a parent, the goal
of BCH’s Pediatric ER is for patients to be triaged and
placed in one of the unit’s 24 beds in less than 10
minutes.
Emergency physicians make a diagnosis, administer
treatment (like respiratory therapy, IV medicines
or fluids) and either discharge the patient or admit
the child for further care, according to Gibbs. BCH’s
Pediatric ER offers the full complement of diagnostic
testing equipment – X-ray, MRI, CT scan and full
laboratory. Phlebotomists in the Pediatric PDQ
outpatient lab are specially trained to start IVs on
tiny babies or those with difficult veins to make the
experience less traumatic.
“Our nurses are great with kids,” said Gibbs. There’s
a play area in the waiting room and televisions in the
treatment rooms. Child Life Specialists bring smiles
to kids at their most vulnerable time, reading books,
playing games or offering take-home blankets and
stuffed animals, he added.
“Baptist Children’s Hospital at North Central is an acute
care children’s hospital in North Central San Antonio
with admission capability,” Gibbs said. This means
that if your child’s diagnosis requires a hospital stay,
they can go right up to the second floor, all under one
roof and in the Stone Oak community. “Many of the
staff live in the Stone Oak area and are always aware
they may be treating a neighbor or their own child’s
classmate,” Gibbs added.
The Pediatric Emergency Room also offers
psychological intervention for a child or teen if a doctor
suspects he or she may be suffering from severe
depression or may be suicidal. A licensed clinical social
worker determines the need for a psychiatric admission
or outpatient follow up.
The Nest Women’s Services
Most parents will not require the critical emergency
care available at Baptist Children’s Hospital at North
Central. The Nest Women’s Services is designed to
make the delivery experience one they will cherish
for a lifetime. The Nest features beautiful, newly
decorated, comfortable labor and delivery rooms with
equally exceptional post-partum rooms for families
to begin bonding with their newborns. The Nest
Women’s Services at North Central Baptist Hospital is
located at 520 Madison Oak Drive, close to home and
convenient for family to visit.
Compassionate Care Close to Home
Whether it’s the joyous occasion of the birth of a new
baby or a medical concern, Stone Oak parents can be
confident that North Central Baptist Hospital stands
equipped and ready to provide their entire family with
high level, quality and compassionate care – right in
their own neighborhood.
Deliver Your Baby
at The Nest
With access to the highest level of maternal
and neonatal intensive care, the Nest at
North Central Baptist Hospital is the trusted
place to welcome your baby into the world.
Learn More at
BaptistHealthSystem.com/NCBWomens
or Call 877-649-3292