Hospitalization can be a stressful event for anyone. Still, for children, a hospital stay can be especially difficult due to their age, level of understanding, degree of illness, and strength of support system.
However, for families throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Valley Baptist Health System’s comprehensive, specialized pediatric services offered at a wide array of locations can help ease their concerns about children’s health care.
Longtime Brownsville pediatrician Dr. Asim Zamir said that for children who may not understand the specifics of the care they receive, it all starts with a positive atmosphere.
“For pediatric patients, a trip to the hospital can be especially traumatic. In addition to the medical reason for their visit, which is likely stressful on its own, they are introduced to an environment full of unusual sights and sounds,” said Zamir, chief of pediatrics at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. “At Valley Baptist, we work hard to alleviate that trauma with compassionate care in surroundings that can help put children at ease.”
Those surroundings include decorations and murals designed to be visually appealing to children, in addition to the inclusion of specific areas where pediatric patients can play and take their minds off their illnesses. From activities in bed to specialized rooms for younger and older pediatric patients, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist-Brownsville offer a variety of opportunities for young patients to normalize their time in the hospital, said Claudia Lopez, MSN, R, and director of pediatric & pediatric intensive care unit services at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.
“Play and surroundings help children adapt to their situations. Play can help fill the gaps created by stress and illness and enhance a child’s natural abilities to cope and find pleasure in their surroundings,” she said.
While surroundings and opportunities for play can help put children at ease, parents can rest assured that their children are receiving compassionate health care provided by well-trained and experienced nurses and physicians, said Miriam Longoria, interim director of children’s services at Valley Baptist-Brownsville.
“At Valley Baptist you have a group of nurses who really and truly love what they do, and it shows in the care that they provide to our pediatric population and their families,” she said. “We truly understand that no one wants their child to be sick, and we go above and beyond to make what can be a stressful and challenging time in a family’s life, a bit more comfortable and familiar. We recognize at Valley Baptist that our pediatric patients are special, and we do our best make sure the care we provide is equally special.”
Lopez said that love for health care and a collaborative atmosphere of teamwork are hallmarks of pediatric care at Valley Baptist Health System.
“Pediatric rounds at Valley Baptist are truly interdisciplinary and a joy to witness,” she said. “Doctors and nurses work together to care for the child and their families to ensure all questions are answered and that our patient is on the mend as quickly as possible. There is a feeling of mutual respect between doctors and nurses, and they truly do work together for the patient.”
Longoria said parents can rest assured that they have access to quality pediatric care without having to travel far from home, from Valley Baptist’s micro-hospital in Weslaco to emergency centers and main hospitals in Harlingen and Brownsville.
“The Valley community is blessed to have not only a dedicated pediatric unit in Brownsville, but also a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Harlingen to keep their children close to home,” she said. “Having a sick child is stressful enough to consider being further away from home than you need to be.”
Lopez said that providing high-quality pediatric care close to home is especially important to families in the Valley who may find it difficult to travel outside the region for healthcare. While specialized rooms, activities, and experienced healthcare providers are important to a child’s recovery, she said that family plays a vital role in wellness.
“Family members are the consistent aspect in kids’ lives, so they are the primary sources of comfort and support. A child may worry that they will have to stay in the hospital alone, or that they won’t be shielded from pain or discomfort,” she said. “We work hard to make sure that we empower the families of our patients to take an active role in their care and recovery and help keep our patients close to home and their loving support systems,” she said.
Valley Baptist-Brownsville has been a pillar of the Brownsville community for more than a century. Valley Baptist-Harlingen is not far behind as it celebrates its centennial in 2025. Longoria said that providing pediatric care to multiple generations of families throughout the Valley is a legacy that Valley Baptist Health System is incredibly proud of.
“Absolutely nothing beats having a nurse or physician who has been able to provide care through multiple generations. It is not uncommon for our staff to be caring for an infant whose mother or father may have been one of their patients themselves as a child,” she said. “We frequently have parents who know the nurses and doctors by name, adding a truly familiar touch and sense of security to the care provided.”
For more information on pediatrics services at Valley Baptist-Harlingen and Valley Baptist-Brownsville, visit valleybaptist.net.
