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A children's
hospital is a hospital
which offers its services exclusively to
children. The
number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th
century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties
separated from internal
medicine and adult surgical specialties.
Children's hospitals are characterized by greater
attention to the psychosocial support of children and
their families.
In addition
to the psychosocial
support of children and families, Children's Hospitals
have the added benefit of being staffed by professionals
who are trained in treating children. While many normal
hospitals can
treat children adequately, pediatric specialists may be
a better choice when it comes to treating rare
afflictions that may prove fatal or severely detrimental
to young children, in some cases before birth. Also,
many children's hospitals will continue to see children
with rare illnesses into adulthood, allowing for a
continuity of care. |