MADERA, Calif. – Medical professionals from across the Central Valley gathered at Valley Children’s Hospital on Friday for a first-of-its-kind pediatric training workshop aimed at strengthening care for children throughout the region.
More than 160 nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical leaders from 25 hospitals and partner organizations took part in the inaugural “Train the Trainer” workshop, which focused on pediatric skills that are not often used in hospitals that treat patients of all ages.
“One thing we’ve realized is that there is not a lot of pediatric training in some of these very small hospitals,” said Dr. Whitney Kalin, medical director of the Clinical Partnerships Program at Valley Children’s. “Some people are three hours away who are some of our clinical partners, so these skills are really vital in just keeping a child safe before they get here.”
The event followed a “train the trainer” model. Participants rotated through multiple sessions and were expected to take what they learned back to their own hospitals, teach their teams and help close gaps that often exist between adult and pediatric care.
The sessions ranged from intravenous (IV) insertion techniques to feeding tube placements, all focused on providing the specific skills needed to treat children.
“Because we don’t do that stuff a lot, it’s always helpful to get tidbits from the places that do this all the time, which is Valley Children’s,” said Frank Ortiz, an assistant nurse manager who traveled from Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
The workshop was part of Valley Children’s broader Clinical Partnership Program, which works with hospitals throughout the Central Valley to prepare them to treat kids at their own facilities.
“This event demonstrates what’s possible when our community comes together with a common purpose,” said Angie Guignard, director of clinical partnerships at Valley Children’s. “By sharing expertise and investing in one another, we’re strengthening the entire network of care for children and families across the Central Valley.”
The event marked the first training of this kind held with partner hospitals at Valley Children’s, and organizers credited partner organizations for prioritizing the training.
“One of the more important things that we’re really excited about is that these hospitals all have sent large groups of people here to learn, which shows that they are dedicated to really taking care of the children of the Valley,” said Dr. Kalin.
To learn more about the Clinical Partnership Program at Valley Children’s, click here.
