HOMERVILLE — The Clinch Memorial Hospital Emergency Department was recognized for its commitment to strengthening pediatric emergency care in Clinch County during a July 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Clinch Memorial 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.
“Clinch County has never had a pediatrician, and the nearest pediatric services are located 45 minutes away. This distance has posed significant challenges for the families in our community, who often lack the financial means or resources to access care so far from home,” said Clinch Memorial CEO Angela Handley.
Children often go without necessary medical attention until their conditions have escalated into emergencies, according to Handley. “Prior to KidsABC, I could not confidently say that we were fully equipped to handle pediatric emergencies,” she said. “While we have an exceptional team, we lacked specialized training and equipment tailored to pediatric care. I am grateful that Clinch Memorial was selected to be part of KidsABC to give our hospital staff and community the confidence in our rural hospital to treat pediatric patients.”
KidsABC helps participating hospitals, like Clinch Memorial, 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.
Handley said, “KidsABC has truly revolutionized pediatric emergency care at Clinch Memorial Hospital. With KidsABC, we are now providing enhanced emergency care tailored to the unique needs of our youngest patients. This transformation has not only improved health outcomes for children but also brings peace of mind to parents who previously had to travel great distances for emergency care. This has had a profound impact on our community, fostering a stronger, healthier environment where families feel supported and confident in the care available to their children right here at home!”
Clinch Memorial commemorated its KidsABC participation and completion of milestones with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Clinch County Chamber of Commerce and attended by hospital, Children’s, MUSM and GRHIC representatives. As part of the celebration, community members were invited to a free Back-to-School Bash with a school supply giveaway and health fair.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for kids in rural Georgia and in Clinch County,” said MUSM 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. Clinch Memorial has been an amazing 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 Clinch Memorial on achieving this milestone,” said Marc Welsh, V.P. of child advocacy and chief diversity officer, Children’s. “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 Clinch Memorial 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/
