Dayton Children's earns verification as Level 1 Surgery Center

Dayton Children's Hospital received verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level 1 Children's Surgery Center. This is the highest level attainable, proving once again to parents that they can rely on Dayton Children's to provide the best care for their child, even in the toughest circumstances.

The ACS Children's Surgery Verification (CSV) Quality Improvement Program confirms that Dayton Children's provides the highest quality, safe surgical care. It specifically addresses the surgical care of infants and children, because they are not just little adults. They have unique needs before, during and after surgery. This program is based upon the standards that define the resources believed necessary to achieve optimal patient outcomes for children's surgical care.

To achieve this verification, Dayton Children's underwent a comprehensive review of hospital data and a site visit at the hospital's two surgery centers in Dayton and Springboro. Through the verification process, ACS surveyors looked at quality measures, multidisciplinary clinical programs and surgical staff.

"When it comes to your child, any surgery, regardless of how minor it may seem, is a big deal," said Daniel Robie, MD, surgeon-in-chief and associate medical officer at Dayton Children's. "We take that responsibility very seriously. Our goal is to make the entire experience exceptional by providing wrap-around support and getting your child back to doing what they do best - being a kid."

what it means for Harper

This attention to detail and wrap-around care was crucial to Jessica Teegarden when her daughter Harper was born with gastroschisis. Gastroschisis happens when the abdominal wall does not close during fetal life, and the abdominal organs are outside at birth. In complex cases, like Harper's, there may also be a twist in the intestine which results in a significant loss of intestine. This can cause the infant to be dependent on nutrition through an IV.

After she was born, Harper was transferred to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at Dayton Children's Hospital. She underwent a series of surgeries over the next year to reconnect her intestine and place it back into the abdomen. Today, Harper is a happy, thriving three-year-old who eats what she wants and all she needs.

"It all seems like it's never going to end but these kinds of complex cases just take time," says Jessica. "When you look back on it, you just become so appreciative of everyone who was involved in your child's case."

surveyor's comments

Some of the strengths the surveyors pointed out included:

• Sensitivity and support of the child with special needs with innovative sensory rooms
• Programs that support the child before and after surgery such as:
  • The child life program
  • The hospitalist program
  • The dialysis program
• Programs that support the treatment of abused children
• Participation in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to track surgical data, measure quality and improve outcomes
• Inclusion of information technology and automation
• Creating and implementing educational and outreach programs
• Involvement at state and regional levels in care planning and development
• Leadership of the surgical program, operating room and anesthesia
• Support from the hospital administration
• Research productivity

fast facts

• There are only 57 Level 1 Children's Surgery Centers nationwide.
• Dayton Children's performs more than 13,000 surgeries every year at two surgery centers.
• Some of the most common surgeries at Dayton Children's are:
  • Ear tubes
  • Hernia
  • Circumcision
  • Scoliosis
• Some unique and specialized surgical programs at Dayton Children's include:
  • Advanced pain management techniques including cryoablation
  • Leading provider of ApiFix spine correction surgery
  • Minimally invasive techniques
  • Use of the Rosa Robot for epilepsy surgery
• The hospital employs 116 board-certified surgery staff
  • 37 board-certified surgeons across eight surgical subspecialties
  • 20+ pediatric anesthesiologists
• The child life team at Dayton Children's helps patients feel less anxious before and after surgery with distraction and calming techniques.