CRMC plans to expand medical care for children

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Community Regional Medical Center seeks to expand specialized medical care for Valley families and their kids. That would include building an in-patient pediatric intensive care unit.

The expansion of children's care at Community Regional was greeted with applause. They have begun the process of recruiting sub-specialists so fewer families will have to leave the Valley to seek specialized treatment.

"That will be the very, very first impact that folks in the community will see. I think the other one will be opening our new pediatric ICU in the coming months or so," said Craig Wagoner, Community Regional CEO.

Community Regional is partnering with U.C. San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital in offering new pediatric healthcare options for Valley families.

"I think what we're doing here today is an example of that and I'm very proud and pleased to be a part of it," said Ken Jones, UCSF Medical Center COO.

CRMC also plans to expand inpatient medical and surgical units. "CRMC is in the middle of our population base and it has that opportunity to serve people who are the most underserved and who are really on the fringes."

Community Regional and UCSF are also looking into possibly building a women's and children's hospital in Downtown Fresno.