DCH celebrates opening of newly renovated pediatrics care unit

DCH Regional Medical Center on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its improved pediatrics unit in Tuscaloosa.

The renovations to the child-care unit will allow DCH to expand its pediatric services in order to care for children with more severe and complex health care needs, hospital officials said.

"It's wonderful that we have a unit dedicated just solely to pediatrics, which will serve our community," said Dr. Cynthia Walker, a pediatrician at DCH Regional Medical Center.

NICK SABAN COMMEMORATIVE BOOK: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book! Preorder here.

Walker said DCH had to make several adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included using the pediatrics unit to treat COVID patients who were in need of intensive care.

"Pediatrics got shifted in an effort to take care of those patients and now we're getting ready to go back to where we were before," Walker said.

The unit will serve up to six patients at a time and will provide services such as IV fluids, breathing treatments, treatment for asthma and other pediatric care.

The pediatric unit also has awaiting area for adults, which is adjoined by a playroom for children.

Katrina Keefer, DCH Health System president and CEO, said the newly renovated pediatrics unit will be equipped with well-trained and caring staff that specialize in pediatric care.

"When I arrived, there were problems with our pediatrics care delivery, there were perception problems and perhaps we knew we needed to elevate care," Keefer said.

Keefer said DCH has addressed those issues by implementing more training and hiring respiratory therapists and specialists in other disciplines to assist patients who have more complex health care needs.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: DCH marks opening of newly refurbished pediatrics care unit