Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System is the first in the state to have all of its hospitals earn a designation for pediatric emergency care.
The Georgia Department of Public Health grants the designation to emergency departments that are equipped with child-specific medical supplies and staff members trained in pediatric care.
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin and Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham recently earned the designation, joining the system’s three other hospitals recognized earlier this year, according to a Nov. 25 news release.
“Emergency care for children isn’t just about having the right equipment — it’s about having the right people,” Hersh Mathur, MD, medical director of pediatric emergency medicine at NGHS, said in the release. “Our teams are trained to recognize and respond to pediatric emergencies with precision and empathy. This designation reinforces the trust families place in us every day.”
The designation comes amid growing concern over the shrinking availability of pediatric services nationwide. Nearly 30% of inpatient pediatric units closed between 2008 and 2022 amid staffing shortages and financial constraints, raising concerns about access to care.
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