Ridgecrest Regional Hospital Announcement New Pediatric Hospital Program

Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Ridgecrest, Calif. – Rural Health Pediatrics, a service of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital (RRH) has announced it is introducing a pediatric hospitalist program. RRH Pediatric Hospitalists are highly trained pediatricians who specialize in providing 24-hour, in-hospital care for pediatric patients who require hospitalization. Pediatric Hospitalists also attend deliveries and provide newborn care.

RRH doctors in the hospitalist program include: Pediatric Medical Director Jennifer Prince, DO MABMH, who is joined by Joseph Cramer, MD who recently became a permanent member of the pediatrics team after serving as a visiting physician to RRH since 2013 and new physician to RRH Rabih Hamzeh, MD.

“We are excited to now be able to provide our younger patients with the same continuum of care, as any other patient would receive,” said Prince. “Pediatric Hospitalists work with pediatricians and family physicians to provide high-quality care for children in the hospital in a way that is comfortable and reassuring for children and their parents. Having a hospital based pediatrician on a permanent basis, will be of great benefit to the families in our community”

Benefits of Pediatric Hospitalist Program include:

• Pediatric care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including holidays)
• Hospital-based pediatric specialists who are readily available to patients and their families for medical care or needs
• Familiarity with the hospital and specialists to ensure timely follow up with tests and treatments
• Ongoing communication and information sharing with all physicians involved in a child’s care
• Ability to care for children with a wide variety of illnesses and medical needs including: Illnesses such as bronchiolitis, bacteremia, and cellulitis
• Respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and croup
• Problems with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma
• Common pediatric illnesses such as influenza and dehydration
• Recovery from injuries or surgeries
• Care of newborn

More information on RRH pediatric services can be found on the hospital’s website at rrh.org. RRH Pediatrics continues to remind its patients and the community about the importance of children’s flu shots this flu season, as well as staying on the recommended schedule with all childhood vaccinations. For appointments, please call the pediatrics team on (760) 499-3846.