Fairhope, Alabama (October 31, 2019) – Children and infants in Baldwin County with injuries or complex medical needs now have better access to healthcare thanks to a collaboration between the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart and Infirmary Health’s Thomas Hospital.
Critically ill children seen in Thomas Hospital’s emergency department or admitted for an inpatient stay can be transported via ground ambulance to the Children’s Hospital. The partnership also allows for babies in need of surgery or a more specialized level of care to be transferred from Thomas Hospital’s level II newborn nursery to the Children’s Hospital’s level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is also bringing outpatient specialty pediatric care to Baldwin County with the opening of a new clinic with specialists in gastroenterology, urology, endocrinology and pulmonology. The outpatient pediatric specialists office will be at Ascension Medical Group, 411 North Section St., Suite B, Fairhope. For appointments or more information, call 850-416-1575.
“As we continue to grow our children’s hospital services, we’re working hard to bring specialized healthcare closer to the communities we serve. This means greater convenience, improved access and ultimately better outcomes for families of sick and injured kids,” said Will Condon, president of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. “Collaborating with other healthcare organizations helps provide a seamless, coordinated experience for critically ill children and ensures all children get the best care possible.”
To remain at the forefront of pediatric care available in Baldwin County and to improve the patient experience, Children’s Hospital and Thomas Hospital have collaborated on continuing staff education and sharing best practices on caring for children.
“We are very excited to partner with Studer Family Children’s Hospital. This relationship will provide real benefits and convenience for our community’s pediatric patients and their families,” said Ormand Thompson, president of Thomas Hospital. “It is the goal of Infirmary Health and Thomas Hospital to maintain localized, quality healthcare, and this affiliation accomplishes that for our community.”
In May 2019, the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart opened for patient care. This expansion enables more sick and injured children to receive specialized care from Northwest Florida’s only children’s hospital. The facility includes a pediatric emergency department, neonatal intensive care unit, medical/surgical beds, observation beds, a pediatric imaging department, pharmacy, inpatient rehabilitation gym, child life playrooms, outpatient lab services and a new family-friendly dining venue. More than 120 pediatric doctors serve on the Children’s Hospital’s medical staff, caring for kids across 30 pediatric specialties.
For more information, visit www.studerfamilychildrenshospital.com.
About Ascension Sacred Heart
In Florida, Ascension operates Ascension Sacred Heart based in Pensacola and Ascension St. Vincent’s based in Jacksonville. Together, Ascension Florida operates seven hospitals and more than 100 other sites of care, and employs more than 11,000 associates. Across the region, Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension St. Vincent’s have served North Florida communities for more than 145 years. In fiscal year 2019, they provided nearly $180 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 156,000 associates and 34,000 aligned providers. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 150 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 20 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on Ascension Sacred Heart, visit healthcare.ascension.org.
About Thomas Hospital
Thomas Hospital is an affiliate of Infirmary Health. With 162 licensed beds, it holds the only open-heart facility and inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Baldwin County. Thomas Hospital also features a state-of-the-art birth center, freestanding emergency department and high-risk breast clinic. Infirmary Health is composed of three hospitals, three post-acute care facilities, more than 60 medical clinics and other affiliates. Infirmary Health serves all counties along the Gulf Coast and offers the most advanced technology, comprehensive treatment and highest quality care to remain the first choice for healthcare in the region.
