Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics have treated 25,000 patients since the first clinic opened its doors on March 25, 2013. Patients and families are able to receive expert pediatric care in their own communities for illness or injuries that occur during the evening or weekend.
Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics are located in Brentwood, Hendersonville, Spring Hill and Mt. Juliet. The four clinics allow parents to take their children to get care when pediatricians’ offices have closed for the day or on the weekend. To keep care consistent and current, the child’s regular pediatrician is sent a report about the visit the same evening.
“When we launched our After-Hours Clinic program, we were confident that bringing our expertise in treating children closer to home was the right choice for our families and greater community. Our journey over 30 months has been very rewarding, and it is exciting to celebrate this milestone of 25,000 patients seen,” said Meg Rush, M.D., MMHC, Chief of Staff and Executive Medical Director for Children’s Hospital.
“Our model is unique in that we have a pediatrician seeing our patients, thereby distinguishing our clinics from other after-hours choices and enabling full continuity of care with our community pediatricians and specialty physicians. We have a fantastic team of doctors and nurses solely committed to this program focused on both quality and efficiency for the care of children. I congratulate and thank them for their dedication to this service.”
Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics offer primary care for a wide array of issues including sore throats, ear infections, rashes, skin infections, gastrointestinal illnesses and respiratory problems. Injuries to arms and legs can be evaluated and splinted with coordination of an orthopaedist appointment (next business day) if needed. They will also treat simple wounds, colds and allergies and can remove foreign objects from ears and noses.
“When I heard [Children’s Hospital] had an after-hours clinic, I said, we’re there, we’re going,” said Nakesha Ricks, who brought her 8-year-old daughter, Jaisha, to the Brentwood After-Hours Clinic on Nov. 17. “When you work until 5 or 6 p.m., something that opens at night is so convenient, and the fact that they specialize in pediatrics makes me feel a little bit better because I know they can connect with my babies instead of a clinic that has everyone (children and adult patients) in the lobby.”
Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics are open seven days a week, including holidays. Care is provided by a board-certified pediatrician from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. No appointment is necessary, but it is recommended that the child’s pediatrician be called first.
Click here for clinic locations and contact information.