About Our Children’s Medical Center

At UMass Memorial Medical Center – Children’s Medical Center, we know kids. We know they have unique physical and mental health needs separate from adults. We know that one-size-fits-all is not how health care works. That’s why our Children’s Medical Center is specifically designed with children in mind.

Our Mission:

Our mission and commitment to the community is to provide the best health care for all; and to improve the health of infants, children and adolescents through the delivery of family-centered care, excellence in education, innovation and research, as well as the advocacy, support and promotion of health equity and child wellness.

Care Concepts

Our Pediatric Specialty and Subspecialty Clinics:

As the region’s “hospital within a hospital” and only care facility for children across Central New England, we offer more than 30 pediatric specialty services, including emergency and inpatient care. Our pediatric specialty and subspecialty clinics include:

• Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is the only one in Central Massachusetts that is staffed by board-certified pediatric critical care specialists who coordinate and direct a team of highly skilled pediatric critical care nurses, child life specialists, nutritionists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and social workers.
• A Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) uses innovation combined with compassion to treat the tiniest patients in the region.
• An Inpatient Pediatric Unit with 30 beds provides inpatient care by pediatric hospital medicine specialists.
• The only dedicated Pediatric Emergency Room in the area, as well as the only Level I Trauma Center for children, is accredited by the American College of Surgeons.
• The only Child Protection Program in the area provides forensic evaluations of children thought to be abused.
• An American Diabetes Association -credentialed Pediatric Diabetes Center helps children with Type 1 diabetes live healthy, active lives..
• Our Cystic Fibrosis Center  is one of the most respected in the nation and treats almost 200 children and adults with cystic fibrosis. It— also serves as a clinical research site.
• A Pediatric Cancer Care Center with a multidisciplinary cancer team provides diagnosis and treatment for all children and young adults with blood disorders and cancer.
• Our Child Life Specialists help infants, children, youth, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement. They provide appropriate interventions, including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain.
• Our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program works with patients and their families to offer inpatient and outpatient services that improve and transform the lives of young people struggling with psychiatric conditions.

Specialty Care:

In all, more than 150 medical and surgical specialists devote their expertise to the care of infants, children and adolescents. This includes health care for children with cancer, kidney problems, heart disease, and diabetes, as well as those who need surgery and anesthesiology.

SERVICES AND TREATMENTS

Family Support:

We recognize that parents and other family members are a child’s primary source of support. We offer programs to help them cope with stressful health care experiences, enjoy privacy and time together, educate themselves on illnesses and conditions, and share insights with us.

Get Involved with the Patient Family Advisory Committee.

Research and Innovation:

As an academic medical center, the Children's Medical Center is actively involved in pediatric research and innovation. This contributes to the advancement of medical knowledge and the development of new treatments and therapies for childhood diseases and conditions.

Education and Training:

Our clinicians play a crucial role in educating the next generation of health care professionals. It offers residency and fellowship programs in pediatrics, providing training opportunities for medical students, residents and fellows interested in pediatric medicine.

Community Outreach and Support:

Our team is committed to serving the local community. It provides outreach programs, support services, and educational resources to help families navigate pediatric health care and promote children's health and well-being.