FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE

FEATURE

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School of Medicine, Children’s Join Forces to Advance Pediatric Health Care in Rural Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp announces a major initiative between Mercer University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to improve pediatric health care in rural Georgia on Feb. 22 at the state Capitol. From left are Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, former Gov. Nathan Deal, School of Medicine Dean Dr. Jean Sumner, Kemp, Children's CEO Donna Hyland and Speaker of the House Rep. Jon Burns. Photo by Matt Smith

ATLANTA (February 22, 2023) — Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s) today announced they will be working together to launch a major initiative focused on improving pediatric healthcare in rural Georgia. The announcement, which was made by Gov. Brian Kemp at the Georgia State Capitol with legislators and healthcare leaders in attendance, includes a series of pilot programs focused on improving access to pediatric care close to home. The affiliation will be funded by a dedicated and long-term sustainable fund of $200 million that the Children’s Board of Trustees allocated in 2022.

One of the top priorities that Mercer has already identified is an urgent need for more pediatricians throughout Georgia. To help increase access to pediatricians in rural counties, Children’s is funding 10 full-tuition scholarships in 2023 through a program at Mercer University School of Medicine for medical students specializing in pediatrics who commit to serving in rural Georgia for at least four years after residency.

Pediatric Rural Health Alliance

The initiative to improve pediatric health care in rural Georgia will initially involve hospitals, pediatricians and school systems representing 11 rural Georgia counties. School of Medicine and Children’s leadership announced the community partners during a Feb. 23 news conference in Heritage Hall of the University Center on Mercer’s Macon campus.

Project: Kid-Ready Emergency Department

Rural hospitals currently face a challenge in their ability to treat and keep pediatric patients in their communities. To better prepare rural hospitals to respond to pediatric patients in the emergency departments, the new initiative will assist rural hospitals with meeting a set of criteria to be considered “Kid Ready.” This project involves eight rural hospitals:

Clinch Memorial Hospital, Clinch County
Coffee Regional Medical Center, Coffee County
Crisp Regional Hospital, Crisp County
Dodge County Hospital, Dodge County
Mountain Lakes Medical Center, Rabun County
Taylor Regional Hospital, Pulaski County
Upson Regional Medical Center, Upson County
Washington County Regional Medical Center, Washington County

Project: Community-Based Pediatrician Support

Rural pediatricians are often isolated with little access to subspecialty support, after-hours support, and regular clinical updates. The initiative will provide physician-to-physician support and offer provider training. In addition, the School of Medicine will conduct a needs assessment to determine core training needs. This project involves five rural pediatricians:

Dr. Grace Davis, Worth County
Dr. Leah Helton, Laurens County
Dr. Brittany Lord, Dodge County
Dr. Jennifer Stroud, Coffee County
Dr. Jennifer Tarbutton, Washington County

Project: Mental Health and Wellness Support

and Care

Behavioral and mental health support continues to be identified as an urgent need across the country, with a specific need to create access points for rural providers and schools to connect to mental health professionals. The School of Medicine and Children’s will work with schools, pediatricians and hospitals to develop a comprehensive approach to pediatric mental health. This project will begin in conjunction with Washington County and Jefferson County schools.

READ THE MERCER UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Donna Hyland speaks at a news conference Feb. 23 in the University Center. Photo by Christopher Ian Smith

Mercer President William D. Underwood introduces School of Medicine Dean Dr. Jean Sumner at a news conference Feb. 23 in the University Center. Photo by Christopher Ian Smith

Dr. Jennifer Tarbutton, a Sandersville pediatrician, speaks at a news conference Feb. 23 in the University Center. Photo by Christopher Ian Smith

2023 Ongoing Center Initiatives

Maternal Health Improvement

All Rural Counties

Dr. Kedrick Williams

Maternal Health Observership

All Rural Counties

Dr. Kedrick Williams

Maternal Health Symposium

All Rural Counties

Dr. Kedrick Williams

Community Health Reporter

All Rural Counties

Dr. Kedrick Williams

Clinical Ethics ECHO

All Rural Counties

Chris Scoggins

Rural Trauma Training

All Rural Counties

Glenda Grant

Lean Six Sigma Webinar

All Rural Counties

Chris Scoggins

Mental Health First Aid

All Rural Counties

Dr. Kedrick Williams

Pediatric Mental Health Initiative

Ben Hill, Washington

Joan Anderson

Barber/Beauty Shop Project

Rural Counties TBD

Samantha Johnson

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention

All Rural Counties

Joan Anderson

Hancock County COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Hesitancy Study

Hancock

Dr. Kimberly Carr

Faith in Rural Health

Berrien, Putnam, Toombs/Montgomery

Chris Scoggins

Health Fairs

All Rural Counties

Amanda Livingston

Join hosts Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center and Mercer University School of Medicine via Zoom for the 2023 Rural Health Care Ethics ECHO series! We invite health care professionals, hospital administrators, chaplains, clergy members, social workers, hospital ethics committee members, and medical educators serving rural communities.

Sessions are noon—1 p.m.

January 11: Introduction and Overview

January 25: Introduction to Clinical Ethics Deliberation

February 8: Capacity, Competence and Informed Consent

February 22: End-of-Life Issues and Discussions

March 8: End-of-Life Part Two

March 22: Difficult Discharge

April 5: Boundaries and Dual Relationships

April 19: Issues in Pediatric Practice

May 10: Care for Non-Capacitated Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

May 24: Care for Members of the LGBTQIA+ Population

We welcome anyone interested in perinatal mental health. Leave prepared to better support the mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum patients. Topics covered: postpartum depression, perinatal trauma, perinatal OCD/complex anxiety, suicidal ideation, psychopharmacology, and more.

Speakers:

Dr. Jennifer Barkin, Professor, Mercer University

Leah Mele-Bazaz, Survivor, Advocate

Steven D'Achille, Survivor, Advocate

Dr. Rebecca Woo, Psychiatrist, Emory University

Dr. Toby Goldsmith, Psychiatrist, Emory University

Elizabeth O'Brien, LPC, PMH-C

Melissa Keane, LPC, PMH-C

Dr. Bonzo Reddick, District Health Dir., Coastal Health District

*Livestreaming will be available. In-person participants eligible for credits.

Are you a rising 2nd-year medical student in good standing?

Are you interested in obstetrics/gynecology and serving rural GA patients? If yes is your answer, then our observership program is right for you!

Join our next cohort to:

—Expand your learning experience practicing in rural, medically underserved communities.

—Receive a rewarding opportunity to become familiar with best-in-practice care.

—Gain knowledge on telemedicine and care options for underserved communities.

—Engage in cutting-edge research for identifying solutions to today’s problems in Maternal Health.

ABOUT THE CENTER

In 2018, Georgia lawmakers dedicated special funds to establish a new Rural Health Innovation Center tasked with confronting the complex health care challenges and wellness disparities facing rural communities. Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) was awarded the grant funds in 2019 and formally established the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center on its Macon campus. MUSM boasts a longstanding commitment to serving rural Georgia’s health needs, with a mission to educate physicians dedicated to tackling the health challenges in rural Georgia. The Rural Health Innovation Center serves as a critical resource to rural communities to improve access and effectiveness of health care by offering research, collaboration, and training opportunities.

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