New Partnership Expands Access to Pediatric Infectious Disease Experts for Patients at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital
Innovative virtual consultations bring care closer to home
Patients at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital (BKOCH) are benefitting from a new virtual pediatric infectious disease consultation partnership with Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“This program is one of several virtual health initiatives recently implemented as part of the strategic combination between experts in Macon and Charlotte,” said Atrium Health Navicent President and CEO Delvecchio Finley. “These programs are dramatically improving access to high-quality, reasonably priced care while elevating health, hope and healing for all.”
Physicians at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital now can request a virtual consultation from a team of experts working on Levine Children’s Pediatric Infectious Disease Team. Utilizing a “computer on wheels” equipped with a webcam, specialists at Levine Children’s Hospital can consult face-to-face with BKOCH physicians, patients and their families.
“Patients and their family members are able to ask questions and hear the consulting doctor’s recommendations directly,” said Dr. Mitch Rodriguez, medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. “This partnership represents a clear improvement in how we engage assistance in providing care to children and allows for care to be provided closer to home.”
Since the partnership launched on Feb. 2, five consultations have been completed, providing valuable assistance in developing treatment plans for patients with complicated pediatric infectious diseases.
“Our integration with Atrium Health Navicent enables us to work together to provide expertise through virtual technology to help optimize outcomes for Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital patients with complicated infections,” said Dr. Amina Ahmed, professor of pediatric infectious disease and immunology at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. “Our first consult was a smooth, coordinated effort between both pediatric teams and we hope to build upon the success of this consultation model to support other pediatric specialties for patients across our Atrium Health footprint.”
Other virtual health initiatives recently implemented by Atrium Health Navicent include virtual critical care, virtual patient observation and virtual behavioral healthcare integration programs.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent, the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Atrium Health Navicent provides care for health care consumers through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Atrium Health Navicent is dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.