WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals to open new pediatric unit
Attention reporters and editors: To celebrate the opening of the new pediatric unit, WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals will host a ribbon cutting at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. Media are welcome to attend, and interviews will be available with hospital administrators at 2:15 p.m. in the pediatric unit (on the second floor of the Thomas Wing off Division Street). To attend in person or schedule an interview in advance, contact Kristin Anderson at [email protected]. SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Leaders from WVU Medicine and local officials will join together to cut the ribbon on a brand-new inpatient pediatric unit located at Thomas Memorial Hospital on Thursday, February 22 at 2:30 p.m.
The inpatient pediatric unit will be an extension of WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, home to the state’s largest and most experienced group of pediatric specialists and, as part of J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, the only organization in West Virginia named a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence, the highest honor available for nursing care. The pediatric unit will serve patients 18 and under and provide 24-hour comprehensive pediatric care from board-certified pediatric physicians and nurses with extensive pediatric-specific credentials. “We are incredibly excited to extend our WVU Medicine Children’s services to Thomas Memorial Hospital. With our hub-and-spoke model of care, the residents of Kanawha County and the surrounding region will see an expansion of local pediatric services and easier access to our specialty and sub-specialty services in Morgantown,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief administrative officer of WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “While we hope that families never need our services, our pledge to the people of the Charleston area is to provide them with the care they need close to home.”
Since becoming a member of WVU Medicine, Thomas Hospitals has experienced unprecedented growth and continues to serve a record number of patients and welcome a record number of new team members. Throughout the past year, Thomas Hospitals has doubled the capacity of its Critical Care Unit, opened a state-of-the-art physical therapy and rehabilitation center, welcomed more than 50 new physicians and advanced practitioners, and added dozens of new specialties and services. “Providing pediatric services is another example of our shared commitment with WVU Medicine to increase access to specialty care for all patients in southern West Virginia,” Greg Rosencrance, M.D., president and CEO of Thomas Hospitals, said. “This is an important step as we transform Thomas Hospitals into a destination to receive advanced healthcare, and we are proud to be able to serve the youngest of patients in a comforting environment that supports healing.” Youmna Mousattat, M.D. will serve as the lead hospitalist for pediatric inpatient services. Dr. Mousattat previously served as an associate professor of pediatrics at the WVU School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 15 years.
In her academic work, Mousattat provides didactic teaching and clinical supervision for medical students and residents. She has been recognized for her research work and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, as well as local and national presentations. Board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics, Mousattat is a graduate of the University of Aleppo in Syria and completed her pediatric residency at Charleston Area Medical Center. The first patients will be accepted on the new unit beginning Feb. 27.
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For media inquiries: Kristin M. Anderson, WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals Vice President of Marketing and Communications, 304-766-3877, [email protected]