The Bellevue Hospital Pediatric Ambulatory Care Service, or Pediatric Resource Center (PRC) has a long-standing tradition of providing high quality, accessible primary, specialty, and enhanced health care services to the children, youth and families of our neighboring communities, and throughout New York City. It recently relocated to a state-of-the art building with amenities geared towards the comfort of the patients.
Approximately 15,000 children and youth from birth to 18 (and some youth age 18-21) account for approximately 65,000 visits to the clinics each year. The patient population served is predominantly poor, and is culturally diverse, with a large number of recent immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South Asia.
Complex medical, psychosocial, and developmental issues are found in 75% of the patient population, including significant chronic illnesses (e.g., asthma, diabetes, ADHD, neurological impairment, HIV infection, developmental delay), nutritional problems (e.g. obesity, failure to thrive), adolescent parenthood, low birth weight, homelessness, parenting problems, and child abuse and neglect.
For the majority, the primary language spoken at home is other than English (Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Bengali, Senegalese, and Urdu, among others). Many of the PRC staff are bilingual (especially Spanish, and also Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, American Sign Language and others), and state of the art interpreter services (e.g., simultaneous translation via wireless telephones) are provided by the hospital.
In serving as a major resource for medical, psychosocial and developmental services, the PRC has developed strong linkages to numerous community organizations, health care facilities, social service organizations, daycare centers, and schools in nearby neighborhoods and throughout New York City.
Throughout its history, the success of the PRC in providing a broad range of services has depended upon the use of an interdisciplinary approach to care. In addition to pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, public health nurses and ancillary nursing support staff, the PRC has supported psychiatry liaison, social work, Child Life (child development), and nutrition staff to provide enhanced services and to work collaboratively with medical and nursing staff, using a team approach.
