Children's Opens 9th Floor as Dedicated Pulmonary Unit

Children's Hospital Colorado opened the doors of its 10,000 square-foot top floor to a new pulmonary inpatient unit that supports increased patient volumes and clinical program growth. The 9th floor unit is designed to care for children with chronic pulmonary conditions, cystic fibrosis and a wide range of conditions that require the pulmonary team's expertise.

"We continue to have a stable, high census - patients are overflowing to other medical units - so it became evident that there was a need for more medical bed space," explained Brenda Hyle, BSN, RN, clinical manager of levels 8 and 9 inpatient medical units.

The creation of a dedicated respiratory inpatient unit will allow for improved patient care and patient outcomes, as well as greater multidisciplinary expertise and enhanced educational and clinical research opportunities.

The pulmonary team, led by Robin Deterding, MD, director, pulmonary clinical services, is supported by a staff of 40 nurses, clinical assistants and specialists, a multidisciplinary team, an advanced practice nurse, as well as clinical and physician partners. The 9th floor also supports overflow of general medical unit patients, as necessary.

"Breathing problems are some of the most common and serious reasons for hospitalization, and many of these children and families require complex multidisciplinary care plans that are well coordinated in
both the inpatient and outpatient clinical environments, which a dedicated unit can facilitate," explained Dr. Deterding.

Learn more about Children's Hospital Colorado Pulmonary Department.