UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg opens new pediatric unit

The lobby and play area on UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg's ninth floor. PHOTO PROVIDED

UPMC Pinnacle officially opened its new pediatric inpatient unit at UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg last week.

The Harrisburg-based health system announced early last month that it would be investing $17 million to expand its current inpatient pediatric care offerings on the hospital’s ninth floor to an entire children’s inpatient unit.

The system announced on Tuesday that it completed the first phase of the new unit, totaling $12 million. The new pediatric inpatient unit includes 11 new, private rooms designed to allow patients to stay in one room during their entire stay.

As part of the new project, pediatric patients will also receive telecare from specialists at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“Since Pinnacle hospitals were merged into the UPMC network in 2017, UPMC has invested $910 million to the hospitals to elevate the level of care we provide,” said Philip Guarneschelli, president of UPMC Pinnacle. “This re-investment, including our new $12 million UPMC Children’s Harrisburg, represents UPMC’s commitment to offering world-class care to the people of south central Pennsylvania.”

Dr. Chris Mmuo, vice chairman of pediatrics and director of the pediatric hospitalist program at UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg, said that the 11 new private rooms will allow the entire patient stay to be more consistent since the patient will have the same care team from start to finish.

“Seeing the same providers, nurses, and support staff each day builds trust and improves outcomes” said Mmuo. “Each room is also equipped with all the technology needed to provide care at the bedside.”

Along with the new unit, UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg now offers real-time consultations with more than 400 specialty care providers and access to board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The additional contact with UPMC physicians will allow the new unit to provide enhanced pediatric care 24/7, according to Mark Sevco, president of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“Through this affiliation with UPMC Children’s, we will bring unmatched pediatric expertise to children with acute illnesses and injuries in south central PA and other areas throughout the region,” Sevco said.

UPMC Pinnacle welcomed its first young patient to the unit on Nov. 9.