COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been named a National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) Center of Excellence.
Aligning with Nationwide Children’s vision of delivering multidisciplinary care to support best outcomes, the NPF selects hospitals based on their ability to provide a comprehensive pediatric health care delivery system for the treatment of pancreatic disease.
“This recognition is a credit to the dedicated physicians and staff who have passionately supported the patients and families who seek our care and expertise,” said Cheryl Gariepy, MD, director of the Pancreas Center at Nationwide Children’s. “The center’s capacity to provide comprehensive care and advanced procedures puts us at the forefront of providing best outcomes and improved quality of life for patients.”
Nationwide Children’s underwent a rigorous inspection to obtain the NPF certification. A task force of subject-matter experts and patient advocates evaluated the hospital and its delivery of patient-focused programs, such as pain management services and psychosocial support.
As part of the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, the Pancreas Center at Nationwide Children’s provides comprehensive multidisciplinary care for infants, children and teens suffering from diseases of the pancreas. Hospitals with NPF Center designation not only are in a unique position to supply patients and their families with multidisciplinary care, but each center strives to advance research in the field and continues to advocate for awareness of pancreatitis and associated conditions with community physicians, allied health professionals, patients, families and the general public.
Nationwide Children’s staff led by Dr. Gariepy continues to investigate pediatric pancreatic disease as part of the International Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cure (INSPPIRE 2) project, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Through this work, the Nationwide Children’s team has helped create a registry of over 500 children with recurrent and chronic pancreatitis and the Pancreas Center is able to offer patients innovative pain management strategies.