November 21, 2013

Children’s Hospital after-hours clinic in Hendersonville debuts

Care is closer at hand for children who need it, when they need it, now that the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has opened a second after-hours clinic in Hendersonville, Tenn.

Meg Rush, M.D., cuts the ribbon at a community event held last week to celebrate the opening of the new After-Hours Clinic in Hendersonville. (photo by Joe Howell)

Care is closer at hand for children who need it, when they need it, now that the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has opened a second after-hours clinic in Hendersonville, Tenn.

The Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinic, located at 262 New Shackle Island Road, Suite 207, allows parents to take their children to get care when their pediatricians’ offices have closed for the day or the weekend. To keep care consistent and current, the child’s regular pediatrician will be sent a report about the visit the same evening.

The Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinic will be open seven days a week, including holidays. The hours are Monday-Friday, 6-9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 12:30-7:30 p.m.

“The new after-hours clinic will be staffed by pediatricians with experience in acute care, said Jill Obremskey, M.D., medical director for the Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics, operated by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “Our goal is to provide children of all ages, including infants, the best possible care close to home when their regular pediatrician is not available.”

Vanderbilt board-certified pediatricians will staff the 3,000-square-foot clinic and offer acute care for minor illnesses such as fever, sore throat, asthma, splinting and repairing wounds. Services such as flu shots, other vaccines and X-rays will not be available. No appointment is necessary, but it is recommended that parents call their child’s regular primary care physician first.

During the day, the space will be used by Vanderbilt Children’s Specialty Clinics. Over the next couple of months, they will begin to offer appointments for pediatric orthopaedics, genetics and cardiology.

“We are excited to bring these services to Hendersonville and surrounding communities. We know that families ask for our services to be closer to their homes,” said Meg Rush, M.D., chief of staff and executive medical director of Children’s Hospital. “This model allows us to take our expertise to communities, yet furthering our partnership with community pediatricians through maintenance of close communication with children’s medical homes.”

Visit here for a list of services available at Vanderbilt’s After-Hours Clinics.