The University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center’s inpatient pediatric unit has delayed its planned closing from May to June, the president and CEO of the center announced Thursday.

The Bel Air hospital previously announced the inpatient unit would close May 7, but after talks with the Maryland Health Care Commission it  was advised to extend the deadline to the first week in June due to the requirement that it file a 45-day notice before a facility partially closes, according to Shena Matsos, the hospital’s director of marketing and communications.

According to the Maryland Code of Regulations, a healthcare facility does not need to file a certificate of need if it provides the commission with a 45-day notice of a partial facility closure. In addition to the notice, facilities must hold a hearing to inform the public of its decision, next steps and provide a copy of it on their website.

For several years, the pediatric unit has experienced low admission, averaging 0.75 patients per day, President and CEO Elizabeth Wise said during the public information session Thursday. The unit sometimes sees one patient per day, but many days they see no one, especially during the summer months, Wise said.

“The other thing that’s happening, not only in Upper Chesapeake, but across the country … is that there is much more access to care for pediatric patients,” Wise said. “Whether it be pediatric urgent care, pediatricians, family medicine providers, and so most care is taking place in the outpatient, or what we call the ambulatory space.”

Due to the decline in patients, Upper Chesapeake adjusted staffing. However, the lack of patients, Wise said, bears a challenge for staff as they don’t have many opportunities to hone their skills.

“The more patients you take care of, the higher volume … you maintain a current skill set or what we call in healthcare, competency,” she said.

The unit’s one licensed bed will be closing as well, however, there will not be a change in care, Wise said, as the hospital will continue to care for pediatric patients in the emergency room, with children who require a higher level of care being transferred to local hospitals.

Every member of the pediatric unit will be offered a position in the family birthplace unit, emergency department or other units that have open positions, Wise said. If someone chooses a position outside their current skill set, the hospital will ensure they’re provided with the necessary training to succeed in their new role.

As pediatric care shifts to the emergency department, Chief Nursing Officer Michelle D’Allessandro said the emergency staff will receive pediatric advanced life support, or PALS, training, so they’ll have the same competency level as the pediatric staff. This training will provide nurses with the necessary skills to handle life-threatening pediatric emergencies.

“We will also do a competency day totally dedicated to care of the pediatric patient,” she said. “And then we will have dedicated huddles that will be run by our educator in the ER that will focus on the pediatric care of that population.”

PALS training, D’Allessandro said, is similar to basic life support training, but it is geared toward children. As of now, some staff members have the proper certifications and training, but Upper Chesapeake’s goal is for everyone to have it, she said.

After the unit is closed on or around June 1, the space will be used as an overflow area for the family birthplace unit where mothers and babies will be taken care of.

“We’re fortunate to be part of the largest network of care in the state of Maryland, which treats more Marylanders than any other health system,” Wise said in an email statement. “We remain committed here at UM UCH to delivering the right care, at the right time, and at the right location.”

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