CLAXTON, Ga. — The Evans Memorial Hospital (EMH) Emergency Department was recognized for its commitment to strengthening pediatric emergency care in Evans County during an Aug. 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Evans Memorial Hospital was celebrated for reaching key milestones as a participating hospital in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC). The Alliance, established in 2023, is a collaboration between Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s).
Georgia rural hospitals face unique challenges in their ability to treat and keep pediatric patients in their communities, and KidsABC is focused on improving access to quality pediatric care.
“As one of Georgia’s 71 rural hospitals, we are frequently challenged with equipment, staff education and technology needs related to caring for our pediatric population,” said Bill Lee, chief executive officer of Evans Memorial Hospital. “In 2024, we experienced a 20% growth of children seeking care in our emergency department. This vital program is a great opportunity for our community.”
KidsABC helps participating hospitals, like Evans Memorial Hospital, acquire child-friendly equipment, complete pediatric-specific emergency care staff training and implement the latest protocols and policies for treating children with critical conditions, such as asthma and diabetic ketoacidosis.
“Today signifies a major achievement for Evans Memorial Hospital, enabling access to care for our most precious population and advancing the mission of ‘keeping care for kids at home’ through this meaningful project. Most recently, our emergency care team was presented with a 10-day-old critical patient. Our well-trained caregivers were able to provide lifesaving and stabilizing care to this patient and ensure that we could deliver the right care at the right place and the right time,” said Lee.
Evans Memorial Hospital commemorated its KidsABC participation and completion of milestones with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce and attended by hospital, Children’s, Mercer University School of Medicine, and GRHIC representatives. As part of the celebration, community members were invited to a free Teddy Bear Clinic.
“Today marks a very important moment for kids in rural Georgia and in Evans County,” said Mercer University School of Medicine Dean Jean R. Sumner, M.D., FACP. “We are honored to recognize the ED staff for their dedication to pediatric emergency care training and refining their skills to provide the best care for kids. Children are not just tiny adults when it comes to the practice of emergency medicine. They require special care and appropriate equipment and tools to help keep their care here at home. Evans Memorial Hospital has been a strong, committed KidsABC participant and has set the bar very high for pediatric care. We commend the efforts of the staff and leadership. They are making a difference in children’s lives and will continue to do so for years to come.”
“Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta congratulates Evans Memorial Hospital on achieving this milestone,” said Marc Welsh, Children’s V.P. of child advocacy and chief diversity officer. “The objectives of KidsABC align with Children’s vision to ‘Do Everything Possible to Make Anything Possible for Kids.’ We want to ensure all the children of Georgia have access to quality health care and, by participating in KidsABC, hospitals like Evans Memorial Hospital are building capacity to serve even more kids in their own communities.”
KidsABC brings together a network of rural hospital emergency departments, pediatric offices, regional and state pediatric tertiary care hospitals and school systems to address the challenge of health care access, which many rural families face. KidsABC participants are equipped with the necessary tools, protocols, training and education, so families have access to subspecialty care, mental health care and emergency medical care in their hometowns.
Programs within KidsABC address the challenges of distance to specialty care and limited resources. KidsABC emphasizes the importance of early intervention in achieving positive outcomes. Children’s provided specialized pediatric clinical guidance to launch and sustain these programs.
For More Information:
KidsABC Initiatives: https://den.mercer.edu/school-of-medicine-announces-community-partners-in-rural-pediatric-health-care-initiative/
KidsABC Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative Expansion: https://den.mercer.edu/musm-and-grhic-expand-major-rural-pediatric-health-care-initiative-to-newly-selected-hospitals/
