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www.christushospital.org
5
Introducing the new
Valero Pediatric
Center at CHRISTUS
Hospital – St. Mary
CHRISTUS Health
Foundation of Southeast Texas,
along with CHRISTUS Hospital –
St. Mary, located in Port Arthur,
celebrated the grand opening of the
newly renovated, kid-friendly and
technologically advanced Valero
Pediatric Center – the only pediatric
unit in South Jefferson County. The
celebration took place on May 15.
The renovation combines the
latest in medical technology with
a design that will make the hospi-
tal experience more comfortable
for children and their families.
Enhancements include new rooms, a
Helping
kids feel
at home
From left, Ivy Pate, vice president
of CHRISTUS Health Foundation
of Southeast Texas; Greg Gentry,
Valero general manager; Deloris
Prince, Port Arthur mayor; Morris
Albright, Port Arthur councilman;
Jeff Branick, Jefferson County
judge; and Barbara Phillips, Valero
community relations.
new nurse’s station and new treat-
ment rooms, all with a kid-friendly
nature theme. The center will serve
children from babies through teens.
“
The playroom has quadrupled
in size, and one of the most popular
new features will most certainly be
the PlayStation in every room,” says
Angie Coleson, RN, nursing director
at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Mary.
“
Kids can play games, watch mov-
ies and take their minds off their
illness.”
The $600,000 renovation resulted
from several years of fundraising
and a number of generous donors.
“
The foundation has worked
diligently for the past several
years to acquire funding for
this important project,” says Ivy
Pate, of the CHRISTUS Health
Foundation of Southeast Texas. “Our
funders, including the namesake
Valero Port Arthur Refinery, the
Meadows Foundation, the Scanlan
Foundation, and individuals
through Children’s Miracle Network,
have all made this project possible.”
“
Even our own neonatal inten-
sive care unit nurses held a gumbo
fundraiser,” Coleson says. The
NICU nurses raised about $2,000 to
provide more toys and decor for the
pediatric unit.
The new facility contains four
negative pressure rooms used for
treating and containing respiratory
infections in infants. Even the cribs
will be updated with 360-degree
access for medical staff to better pro-
vide treatment in emergency situa-
tions. Updated treatment rooms will
be a place for kids to have proce-
dures or tests conducted outside of
their hospital rooms.
“
Kids can feel like their room is a
safe haven,” Coleson says.
“
Even though they are sick, our
patients are still kids,” says Nancy
Ngo, MD, pediatrician at CHRISTUS
Hospital – St. Mary. “They need a
place that is inviting and that lifts
their spirits. The environment truly
helps with their recovery.”