Multidisciplinary Surgical Specialty Care at Valley Children’s
Valley Children’s pediatric surgeons specialize in the repair of congenital and acquired conditions in infants, children and adolescents. Each year our team performs about 3,000 pediatric surgeries and more than 200 types of surgical procedures, ranging from routine to rare and complex.
Our dedicated and experienced pediatric surgery team works closely with our other pediatric specialists, pediatric anesthesiologists, advanced medical providers and certified medical assistants. In addition, a host of other specialists – including dietitians, child life specialists, occupational and physical therapists – support each child for the best outcome.
Valley Children’s is a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, as designated by the Central California Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) Agency. It is the only pediatric trauma center in Central California. Critically injured children can be transported directly to Valley Children’s Hospital, ensuring they receive the expert pediatric care they deserve as quickly as possible.
Intensive Care Support for Surgical Patients
For patients who require intensive care support, Valley Children’s Hospital offers both a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) that provides 24/7 coverage by pediatric intensivists, board certified in pediatric critical care, and a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – the highest level of care available for neonates and infants between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Expertise in Surgical Oncology
As part of the multidisciplinary cancer team, our surgical specialists work in partnership with the pediatric oncology and hematology experts at The Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Valley Children’s. As one of the leading pediatric cancer facilities on the West Coast and the only provider of pediatric oncology services between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the center includes the convenience of an outpatient center for many treatments and a fully-equipped, 36-bed inpatient unit, Starship Craycroft. Our surgical teams participate in the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) and Children’s Oncology Group (COG) treatment protocols for the highest standards of care.
Minimally Invasive Approach for Improved Outcomes
Our surgeons use minimally invasive, or laparoscopic or thoracoscopic techniques, whenever medically appropriate. Often, our surgical patients experience shorter lengths of stay in the hospital due to these less invasive procedures. Other benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:
- Improved healing
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Less blood loss
- Improved cosmetic result
Center for Bloodless Medicine Minimizes Need for Blood Transfusions
For families wishing to avoid the use of donor blood during procedures, we are the only free-standing children’s hospital in the Western United States with a bloodless program. Our Center for Bloodless Medicine focuses on minimizing a patient’s blood loss before, during and after treatment and minimizing the need for blood transfusions. Nearly 400 children, with about 900 visits, are treated annually in the bloodless program.
Focus on Quality
Valley Children’s is the only hospital in Central California that participates in the American College of Surgeons Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and has the only American College of Surgeons-verified pediatric trauma center in the Central Valley. Through the NSQIP program and the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Project, we collect and report outcomes in national databases for quality improvements, and our results have ranked among the best in the country.
In addition, Valley Children’s strives to be a resource for families and a champion for quality care for children through outreach programs such as car seat checks, car seat distributions and “Stop the Bleeding” training.