Timpanogos Regional Hospital opens pediatric intensive care unit
Dr. Dustin Monroe teaches the staff at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The hospital will be opening a pediatric intensive care unit that will allow them to care for pediatric patients with illnesses such as a respiratory virus. Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald
New decorations are set up at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The hospital will be opening a pediatric intensive care unit that will allow them to care for pediatric patients with illnesses such as a respiratory virus. Patients will receive capes that allow them to be “heroes” during their stay at the hospital. Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald
New decorations are set up at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The hospital will be opening a pediatric intensive care unit that will allow them to care for pediatric patients with illnesses such as a respiratory virus. Patients will receive capes that allow them to be “heroes” during their stay at the hospital. Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald
New decorations are set up at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The hospital will be opening a pediatric intensive care unit that will allow them to care for pediatric patients with illnesses such as a respiratory virus. Patients will receive capes that allow them to be “heroes” during their stay at the hospital. Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald
Dr. Dustin Monroe teaches the staff at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The hospital will be opening a pediatric intensive care unit that will allow them to care for pediatric patients with illnesses such as a respiratory virus. Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald
Timpanogos Regional Hospital’s first pediatric intensivist literally wears a cape. It hangs in his office, red on one side, blue with white stars on the other. It was given to Dustin Monroe by his fellowship director, who also gave her graduates superhero names.
Monroe, who is also the medical director of the Orem hospital’s new pediatric intensive care unit, was named Captain Critical Care. He takes that to heart, but also sees his patients as the real heroes.
“These kids are little superheroes,” Monroe said.
The PICU also shares the superhero theme, with superhero decals around the hospital. Each PICU patient is also given a superhero cape when they’re admitted that the kids can keep when they leave.
The hospital cut the ribbon on the PICU on Friday, making it the first of its kind in Utah County.
Orem Mayor Richard Brunst called the ribbon cutting a great day for the city with high birthrates.
“We love the fact this is available to us and so close,” Brunst said at the ceremony.
The PICU opening meant bringing in Monroe, along with Carolyn Harvey, the child life specialist at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Harvey, who has been with the hospital for a few weeks, will bridge the gap between doctors, parents and the young patients.
“Imagine you went to your physician and they say you’re having surgery, and they tell you it in German,” Harvey said.
She describes herself as a “kid translator” who uses age-appropriate language and play to help kids understand what is happening to them and help them heal.
For Monroe, making kids feel welcome in the hospital starts when he asks the children to tell the story of how they ended up in the hospital. After they start, Monroe cuts the kids off and asks them to start the story again, but start by saying “once upon a time.” Fairy tales, he explains, always ends with “they lived happily ever after.”
“And that is the culture and the feel we want to promote at Timpanogos Regional Hospital,” Monroe said.
Although Monroe has only been in Utah for a few weeks, he has been working with the hospital for the last year to set up the PICU. Part of that work has been creating a culture that is kid-friendly and realizing there was no shortage of people who wanted to work in the PICU.
“I was overwhelmed by the passion amongst the team to just take care of kids,” Monroe said.
With the PICU, the hospital can do more aggressive therapies and monitoring without having to send a patient elsewhere. It also allows for families to stay in their communities while a child is sick, and cuts down on their travel time.
