NYU Winthrop Hospital has long excelled in pediatric care and was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best children’s hospitals in the Northeast. A collaboration with Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone will now raise the bar even further by providing NYU Winthrop’s pediatric patients with a continuum of care unique to Long Island.
“We are methodically integrating the best expertise of the two pediatric hospitals, beginning with areas such as neonatal medicine, pediatric cardiology, and electrophysiology services that study abnormal heart rhythms,” says Leonard R. Krilov, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatrics at NYU Winthrop Hospital. “Pediatric cases in those specialties can be incredibly complex, but by tapping the very best collective expertise of our two hospitals, we can achieve optimal outcomes.”
This collaboration follows the recent opening of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, located on 34th Street at First Avenue. The 160,000 square-foot facility has 68 single-patient rooms, and is the only pediatric inpatient facility with this feature in Manhattan. Welcoming patients at the entrance is Spot, a three-story sculpture of a Dalmatian balancing a taxicab on its nose, designed to represent playfulness and determination.
Donna J. Better, MD, pediatric cardiologist at NYU Winthrop Hospital, knows all about determination from her youngest patients. Recently, a 10-day-old baby was brought to the emergency department with a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and signs of cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. After ruling out viruses and stabilizing the patient, Dr. Better transferred the newborn to Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital for possible artificial lung support. Respiratory support and intravenous treatment were used to help the baby recover enough to transition to oral medications. The infant then returned home to Long Island, and continues to receive outpatient care from Dr. Better at NYU Winthrop.
Catherine S. Manno, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone, says that pediatric cardiology is one of their many strengths along with pediatric neurosurgery, and a renowned epilepsy program. Dr. Manno says the new hospital was designed to “delight and distract” children. “Our goal is to provide cutting-edge care in an environment that supports the child and makes the child as comfortable as possible. We also partner with families regarding decision-making, since we know that the best advocates for a child are the parents and family members.”
Dr. Manno herself was born at NYU Winthrop Hospital (formerly Nassau Hospital), and her father was a physician there for 35 years while her mother was a pastoral care committee member. Now, as the NYU Langone family continues to expand, Dr. Manno feels right at home collaborating on cases with NYU Winthrop specialists.
