New pediatrics pod in UPMC Hanover helps keep care close to home

December, 2025 - A newly renovated three-bed inpatient 'Pediatrics Pod' at UPMC Hanover Hospital will help the community's youngest patients closer to home, officials said during a ribbon cutting on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

UPMC administrators and clinicians, along with local officials, cut the ribbon on the newly renovated unit within UPMC Hanover, adjacent to the hospital's postpartum wing.

"This space is already having a positive impact on both our staff and the patients we care for, and we are so proud to offer it to our community," said Amy Hursh, the unit director for maternity and pediatrics at UPMC Hanover.

"I am so excited to be able to offer these services at a small community hospital," said Hursh, "it is so beneficial to the patients and to their families."

For Hursh, who lives within the communities served by the hospital, the passion to see the project become a reality was personal, she noted.

"I've worked my entire 28-year career here in maternity and pediatrics," said Hursh. "I had all four of my children here, and two of my children have been patients in the hospital."

"I think that's why I've been so passionate about it."

Care closer to home

The new renovations bring a major overhaul to the hospital's inpatient pediatric resources, designating a three-bed wing adjacent to the hospital's postpartum unit and adding additional support for the hospital's youngest patients.

An important factor, officials noted, was to ensure that more local children can be kept closer to home for inpatient services.

"Having this unit in Hanover helps keep children close to home and reduces travel while providing high-quality care in a child-friendly environment," said Dr. Glenn Klucka, a pediatric hospitalist and associate Regional Medical Director for pediatric hospital medicine at UPMC.

Klucka, who primarily works at the children's hospital at UPMC Harrisburg, noted that the renovations have broadened the relationship between the teams in Hanover and Harrisburg.

"This renovation has brought our teams in Hanover and Harrisburg even closer as we work together for kids and their families."

"Keeping hospital care for kids close to home in Hanover is so important to our pediatric patients and their families," Hursh added.

Though the hospital does not see a high volume of pediatric patients, Hursh noted that they have steady use for the unit from children with illnesses and respiratory symptoms, as well as children aged 8 or above who are recovering from surgery.

The renovations include a new negative pressure room for patients with respiratory illnesses, as well as the ability to conduct new continuous cardiac monitoring, allowing the nurses to monitor patients' vitals.

"This means more children will get to stay in their community for their care," said Hursh of the expanded capabilities.

When patients do have to transfer away from the hospital, the new space matches the bright and colorful decor of the children's center at UPMC Harrisburg, Hursh explained.

"In addition to creating a welcoming environment here in Hanover, if our small patients require transfer to a higher level of care, we're hoping that transition will be a little easier," she said.

Shared support

The new renovation, which brought pediatrics to an area directly connected to the postpartum unit, will also expand the flexibility of staffing depending on where help is needed.

"All of the pediatric staff are cross trained in both postpartum and pediatrics," said Hursh.

While the two units were previously separated in different locations, the relocation and cross-training will allow staff to float between the two units, helping ensure that staffing is available when needed, despite the low volume of pediatric patients seen at the small community hospital.

"We were really trying to look at how do we keep the service here to benefit the patients, but then, how do we also support our staff?" said Hursh, "since this is a unit that is not open every day, what do we do with those staff on the days that there aren't pediatric patients?"

In addition to the cross training of staff, both units use many of the same supplies, Hursh notes, with the units featuring an interconnected supply room for the small patients they both see.

"Maternity and pediatrics use a lot of the same supplies, so we are able to share the supplies and share the cost," said Hursh, "it's just a more cost effective way to run the unit."

A little comfort goes a long way

While hospitals may be known for their often colorless and sterile atmosphere, the newly renovated unit has been designed with a more comfortable environment for young patients.

Much of the renovations were funded by both the Hanover Hospital and UPMC Pinnacle foundations, Hursh said, which sought to make the space more kid-friendly.

In addition to the funding support, the hospital received donations from local businesses and the "Jared Box Project" to provide toys and art supplies for the children staying in the hospital.

"It's a nice little way to bring a little bit of happiness when sometimes it can be challenging, " said Darcy Bell, a pediatric clinician in the unit, as she gave a tour of a special equipment closet stocked with toys and supplies.

In that room, a repurposed rolling hospital cabinet provides children with toys to pick from, from coloring books to Lego sets, to pass some time in the hospital.

"Something a little comforting and positive goes a long way," said Bell.

In addition to the stock of toys for patients in the units to use during their stay, the "Jared Box Project" provides something to take home with them.

Each "Jared Box," provided by local donors and businesses, is labeled by age group and gender, with age and gender-appropriate toys inside.

"We give them to the children in the emergency room, in same day surgery, and in this inpatient unit," Hursh explained.

"It's a great little keepsake, and something positive as well," Bell said.

"We really love and appreciate these donations," she added.