Through a new virtual care partnership, physicians at St. Croix Health now have enhanced 24/7 access to Children’s neonatal care specialists. Using audio/video technology, St. Croix Health physicians can hold a virtual consultation with a neonatal clinician from Children’s Minnesota. From there, clinicians from both systems collaborate on the care management of newborns requiring acute stabilization after birth and determine whether the baby needs to be transferred another facility for further care. 

When deemed appropriate, the St. Croix Health physician places a call to Children’s Minnesota and requests a virtual consultation. Within minutes, a neonatal specialist from Children’s will connect via an audio/ video conference with the provider and care team. 
For St. Croix Health physicians, the virtual care partnership is a way to better serve area families. “This virtual care relationship between Children’s and St. Croix Health provides an enhanced level of safety for newborn care at the hospital. By allowing the Children’s neonatal specialists to see the baby, we’re confident that we’ll be able to keep and serve more families here, in their own community,” said Vice President of Patient Care Andrea Olson, MANU, MAOL, RN. “We take excellent care of these babies and will send them to another facility for even more specialized care if necessary.”

Partnerships like these also support Children’s vision to be every family’s essential partner in raising healthier children. “Our vision pertains to all infants – not just the ones who are born in our Mother Baby Centers,” said Dr. Mark Bergeron Virtual Care physician lead for Children’s Minnesota neonatology department. “For newborns that live farther away and who need additional services, the virtual health partnership lets us export our expertise and care to places we couldn’t otherwise reach. Virtual care is an excellent way to help improve access to specialized care throughout the region.” 

Children’s Minnesota seeks partners who are enthusiastic about improving patient care and who have a strong belief that a virtual partnership will benefit their community. It found both qualities in St. Croix Health. The virtual care partnership is sure to be an outstanding and helpful resource for area patients, one that improves the overall experience of families. We are committed to ensuring the success of this service to newborn patients. 

“Whether a newborn needs to be transferred to a higher level NICU or we are able to continue care at St. Croix Health, we are focused on ensuring best practices are in place to provide the safest care possible,” said Dr. Michael Tiffany, Medical Director of OB/GYN. “Our ability to continue care close to home is valued by our patients and this program will help us continue to offer that experience for our patients and families.”