Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital opens renovated children’s wing

NORFOLK, Virginia – Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk has announced the opening of its newly renovated pediatric unit.

It has 25 beds, colorful care cells and modern lighting and technology for children with complex medical needs. The wing is expected to open to the first patients soon.

The facility’s operators hope it will help both the children and the medical staff who care for them.

“The people who work in children’s hospitals and in pediatrics are special people. They care for the children with dedication, they almost become like a member of the family. They care so much about the children that they wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Thomas Orsini, president and CEO of Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital.

Transitional care facilities, like Lake Taylor, are places where patients with medically complex needs can receive care for a period of time, usually after a hospital stay but before being discharged home.

“Many children come from the children’s hospital. They are stable there and they come to us. We treat them for things like their respiratory problems. If the symptoms improve, they then go to St. Mary’s Hospital. So in Tidewater it’s kind of a continuum of care. I think we’re lucky to have these child care facilities in this area. A lot of places don’t have these facilities all within the same distance.”

Orsini explained that the transitional care model could also help ease the burden on potentially overburdened hospitals in the region. The transitional care facility could take in patients and free up a bed elsewhere.

“If their condition is stable, they can leave the hospital and provide a bed for someone else who needs it and whose condition is less stable,” Orsini said.

A study published by the National Library of Medicine shows that good transitional care can significantly reduce the number of rehospitalizations.