Profiles in Excellence
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) is one of the most technologically advanced children's hospitals in the world. The 106-bed hospital is a state-of-the-art facility that is dedicated to providing comprehensive specialty pediatric medical care and health services to children in the tri-state area and beyond.
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is ranked as one of "America's Best Children's Hospitals" in US News & World Report's 2008 prestigious annual listing.
Staffed by the nationally-renowned faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, CHAM's pediatric specialists and caregivers are among the best in the nation. In addition to providing outstanding care, CHAM's unique integration of architecture, technology, education and inspiration supports its guiding philosophy of providing family-centered care -- to treat the "whole" child and their family.
A Comprehensive Array of Clinical and Community-Based Care Programs.
Adolescent AIDS Program (AAP): Founded in 1987, AAP is the first program of its kind in the country and is a leader in the field of HIV/AIDS research, treatment and prevention in adolescents. The AAP serves as a local and national resource for adolescents of all sexual orientations and their families and caregivers, those living with AIDS and those who are at risk.
Behavior Clinic: The Behavior Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for children with behavioral problems such as temper tantrums, bed-wetting, soiling, hyperactivity and feeding difficulties. Approaches include behavior modification, family counseling and medication.
Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery: Montefiore Medical Center and its physicians have long been leaders in Pediatric Cardiology and the management of the child with congenital or acquired heart disease. Our team of pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiac surgeons collaborate across disciplines to provide expert, efficient care for all patients with congenital heart defects - from neonates to adults. The following is a partial list of the more than twenty-five diagnoses treated by the pediatric heart team at CHAM:
In some cases, hybrid procedures, where the skills from both pediatric cardiac surgeons and pediatric interventional cardiologists (heart catheterization expert) are used to treat the child during one procedure, help to reduce both the impact of cardiac procedures and the child's length of stay in the hospital. Advantages of these procedures include removing the need for arresting the circulation, the heart, or even the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (heart lung machine).
In addition, the Fetal Cardiology Center offers expertise in the diagnosis and management of heart disease in the unborn child. The Pediatric Dysrhythmia Center performs all invasive and non-invasive electrophysiology studies in children.
Childhood Cancers and Blood Disorders: Addressing the physical, medical and emotional needs of children with cancer and blood disorders requires a complex mix of highly specialized care, state-of-the-art technology, child-centered facilities and a passionate, skilled team of physicians and support staff. At Children's Hospital at Montefiore, our reputation for excellence in treating pediatric cancer and blood disorders stems from our pioneering role as the first and only hospital in the New York City area to offer virtually everything needed for the care and treatment of these children - all under one roof. We have a floor fully dedicated to pediatric cancer and blood disorders, where our patients benefit from the most current diagnostic tools, technological advancements and treatment options - all in the hands of world-class pediatric specialists and sub-specialists. We now offer leading-edge bone marrow transplantation and the area's only NIH-funded Sickle Cell Center. Having all the options in one place and the ability to integrate treatment approaches has helped us continuously improve the outcomes for the children we treat.
Child Life Program: Designed to meet the emotional and developmental needs of children and adolescents experiencing illness, Child Life Specialists use interactive play programs to minimize the trauma of illness by increasing familiarity with the hospital and preparing children for medical experiences. It provides education about illnesses and treatments, and supports emotional, social and cognitive growth.
Child Advocacy Center: The J.E. and Z.B. Butler Child Advocacy Center is an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary program that provides a wide range of critical medical and psychosocial services to children who are victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse and/or neglect.
Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC): One of the largest centers of its kind, CERC provides diagnostic and intervention services for children with chronic illnesses, disabilities or congenital disorders.
Clinical Neuroscience Center: Among the unique resources available through the Division of Pediatric Neurology is the Clinical Neuroscience Center. Opened in February 2003, the center houses the Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center and the Sleep Disorders Center.
Communications Disorders Center: A special unit of the Otorhinolaryngology division, the Center provides management and care for conditions such as pediatric hearing loss and voice and sinus ailments.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center: Dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with epilepsy and related neurological disorders, the Center has made major breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of childhood seizure disorders, the relationship between seizures and seizure-induced hippocampal damage, the epidemiology of autism and language disorders, specialized treatment of childhood seizure disorders and autism.
Congenital Disorders Center: The Center provides multidisciplinary care for children with birth defects, malformations and diseases such as Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida and other neurogenetic, skeletal and metabolic disorders. Genetic evaluation and counseling are also available for families. The dedicated Spina Bifida Center, founded in 1967, provides state-of-the-art care to infants, children and adults.
Craniofacial Center: Founded in the 1960s, the Center provides outstanding multidisciplinary care to children and adults with birth defects affecting the head and neck. Bringing together a team of specialists in plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and oral surgery, the Center has cared for more than 8,000 patients with clefting of the lip and palate, craniosynostosis, and other complex conditions. In August 2004, it accomplished the first-ever successful separation of conjoined twins, Carl and Clarence Aguirre, where both patients survived with no neurological damage or deficit.
Endocrinology: The clinical focus of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology is the diagnosis, management and treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders of childhood and adolescence. In addition, the Pediatric Diabetes Center at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is a family-friendly setting for children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus.
Family Learning Place: The Family Learning Place is a pediatric health information and resource center stocked with health education materials and information about community resources and supportive services for children and their families.
Horizon Center for Children with Special Needs: The Center provides diagnostic, medical and counseling services for children who need specialized evaluations and a multidisciplinary approach to their care. The Center envelops a number of areas such as the Behavior Clinic, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center and the Congenital Disorders and Craniofacial Centers.
Kidney Center: Opened in 1972, the Kidney Center is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing family centered, comprehensive care to infants, children and adults with kidney problems. It provides dialysis and transplantation services for infants, children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease. One of the first kidney transplants in children was performed here.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: The oldest and most comprehensive of its kind in the country, it was established to combat the nation's number one environmental childhood disease. The program provides access to physicians, nurses, social workers, housing and environmental experts, to court advocacy, and is also a liaison to the NY Department of Health for home testing, abatement and clean-up. The CHAM Lead Safe House provides temporary housing and school placement for families whose homes are being made lead safe.
Linking Individual Needs of Children with Services (LINCS): From birth to age 21, children with complex, special healthcare needs can find a "medical home" in the LINCS Program. These patients with chronic medical conditions, developmental disabilities and/or a dependence on medical technology to help them remain functional have their care coordinated by an experienced and devoted team of pediatricians, social workers and support staff.
Otorhinolaryngology: The Division of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery offers treatment for all ear, nose and throat illnesses. Major areas of interest include head and neck tumors and masses, major airway and voice surgery, cochlear implantation, innovative techniques for tonsillectomy and computer-guided sinus surgery. The Division has collaborated with pediatric sub-specialists to develop national centers of excellence for pediatric head and neck tumors and masses (cancer, vascular anomalies, thyroid surgery), pediatric airway surgery (reconstructive and restorative tracheal/laryngeal surgery) and pediatric cochlear implantation (restorative hearing surgery).
Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center: In February 2005, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) opened the New York City region's only Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. CHAM's expertise in sickle cell disease is crucial to helping local children manage the potentially debilitating complications of this condition, which affects a disproportionate number of African-American and Hispanic-American children.
Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU): The Pediatric Critical Care Unit dedicates its resources and expertise to the specialized needs of critically ill or injured infants, children, and adolescents, as well as those recovering from high-risk surgery. Our nationally recognized, board-certified pediatric intensive care specialists and critical care nurses oversee a bright, roomy, 14-bed pediatric critical care unit and care for more than 1,000 patients from all over the world each year.
Carl Sagan Discovery Program: This is the nation's first science and learning program to be fully integrated into the design and philosophy of a pediatric hospital. The program engages children in a creative process that fuels their imaginations, builds self-esteem and contributes to their long-term prospects for success by introducing them to worlds beyond their own, through an extensive, interactive internal website available at kiosks and bedside panels in every room, as well as in common spaces throughout the hospital.
School Health Program: The largest school-based health program in the country, this program provides comprehensive primary care in the areas particularly affecting school-age children such as asthma, family issues, depression and reproductive health care. School health programs that will serve 15,000 children at 16 elementary, middle and high schools in 2008 enable Montefiore staff to address community health issues such as childhood obesity.
Sleep Disorders Center: A full-service laboratory and evaluation center dedicated exclusively to the needs of children, this Center provides diagnosis and treatment for the full range of pediatric sleep disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing, sleep-related movement disorders and parasomnias (sleep walking and sleep terrors).
Social Services: Social workers are an integral part of every child's multidisciplinary team at CHAM. They provide support and intervention for children and their families as well as coordination of discharge planning and case management.
South Bronx Health Center for Children & Families: Regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status, this program provides high-quality, comprehensive primary healthcare to infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
Surgical Services: Pediatric Surgical Services consist of general surgery and a comprehensive array of specialty surgeries. CHAM's expert surgeons are highly skilled in performing procedures on children ranging in age from infants to adolescents. Our surgeons specialize in minimally invasive techniques and work side-by-side with pediatric anesthesiologists and nurses to provide warm, personal and expert care. The CHAM surgical suites and Day Hospital are designed with the very latest in integrated technology that, in combination with the advanced training and experience of our surgeons, results in a nationally renowned surgical program.
From the less complicated general outpatient procedures to the most advanced brain surgeries, surgical services at CHAM include:
The Williams Syndrome Center: The only Williams Syndrome center serving the geographic area between Boston and Philadelphia brings together in one location a multidisciplinary team of highly-specialized pediatric experts to provide the most comprehensive medical care for Williams Syndrome patients of every age.
© 2008 Montefiore Medical Center
© 2008 Montefiore Medical Center