Health Care for Babies and Children
Comprehensive Services Close to Home

Parents tell us that having quality pediatric care close to home means less time driving and more time being with those you love. At Good Samaritan Hospital, we've responded by developing a comprehensive array of family health services that meet the full spectrum of children's needs from birth onward.

DuPage County's Highest Level of Perinatal Care
With every new baby, a family grows—and that's where Good Samaritan Hospital's outstanding services begin. More than 2,000 newborns are welcomed into the world at our Birth Center every year.

Staffed and equipped to meet a broad range of mothers' and newborns' needs, Good Samaritan Hospital has a perinatologist on staff who is double board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine. This doctor works closely with the attending physician if hospitalization becomes necessary for a mother experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.

Infants with special needs are cared for in Good Samaritan Hospital's Special Care Nursery. Certified by the state of Illinois as a Level III Nursery, the highest level of perinatal care available. The director of our Special Care Nursery is a neonatologist specializing in the care of babies experiencing medical problems immediately following birth.

In addition, Good Samaritan Hospital sponsors a variety of emotional and educational support programs for the whole family. We know that mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents all can play roles in helping growing families enjoy a healthy start.

Advanced Pediatric Care for Infants to Adolescents
As children grow, their health care needs change. That's why Good Samaritan Hospital has developed the depth and breadth of resources required to meet your child's evolving needs.

In fact, our medical staff includes more than 80 pediatricians, family practitioners and pediatric subspecialists. We have pediatric subspecialists in cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, nutrition and gastroenterology, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, nephrology, hematology and oncology, allergy and immunology, neonatology, pulmonology and rheumatology.

In addition, pediatric subspecialists in pediatric cardiology, nutrition and gastroenterology have offices located in the Outpatient Center at the hospital. That means you don't have to go elsewhere when your child needs specialized care because you'll find highly respected pediatric subspecialists right here.

Pediatrics Unit Designed for Children and Parents
Reflecting our family-centered philosophy of care, Good Samaritan Hospital remodeled and upgraded our 16-bed pediatrics unit, based on ideas we heard from parents and kids. For instance, every patient room in the unit is furnished with a day bed or sleep chair for parents who want to stay with their child overnight. Just look at these other new features:

• A "walk through the park" decorating theme—complete with bird houses, flowers and hopscotch games—enhances our family-friendly environment.
• A separate children's treatment room for medical tests and procedures allows children to feel safe in their own room.
• A well-equipped playroom is located on the unit.
• Patient rooms have windows or sliding glass doors to improve staff observation.
• A parent pantry with amenities helps make parents more comfortable.
• An expanded nurses' station has lower countertops encouraging children's interaction with staff.

The pediatrics unit also is equipped with advanced technology for monitoring cardiac and respiratory activity. And the pediatric registered nurses have advanced training in the care of acutely ill children.

Pediatric Emergency Services
In case of an emergency, it's good to know that the physician treating your child has special training in pediatrics. At Good Samaritan Hospital, you can count on the fact that all of our 11 board-certified emergency medicine physicians have specific training in pediatrics; attending physicians are specifically qualified in the emergency evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients with all types of illnesses and injuries, big and small.

Our family friendly emergency facilities include a separate waiting and activity area for children and their families, stocked with games, toys, videos and books.