by Jessica Pasley
When Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital launched its After-Hours Clinic Program in 2013, the decision to bring its expertise in treating children closer to home and to provide another option for families was the right choice.
This week, the program treated its 100,000th patient.
Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics, located in Brentwood, Hendersonville, Spring Hill, Mt. Juliet and Murfreesboro, are open seven days a week, including holidays.
Spring Hill, the third clinic to open in the program, was the site of the milestone visit. The clinic has been recognized for two consecutive years with the Excellence in Patient Experience Award by Press Ganey.
“I am so proud of our after-hours team and program,” said Meg Rush, MD, chief of staff and executive medical director for Children’s Hospital. “These clinics are very much a part of our outreach to bring our services to patients and their families closer to home. We are appreciative of our team launching this new model five years ago and continually refining it to best support our patients.
“We are also appreciative of our partnership with our community pediatricians as we function as an extension of their care after hours and on weekends. Congratulations to all of our doctors and staff on this special milestone,” Rush said.
The Children’s Hospital model uses a board-certified pediatrician from Vanderbilt to see patients, which distinguishes the clinics from other after-hour services and allows for a continuity of care with community pediatricians and specialists.
Tara and Jordan Pawson were the 100,000th patients in Spring Hill. The pair have been patients at the clinic in the past.
“After working in Nashville all day and coming home to Spring Hill, I want to be able to stay close to home, but still get care for my children when they need it,” said Nicole Pawson, mother to Tara and Jordan.
The pair received a gift basket filled with Children’s Hospital goodies.
The After-Hours Clinics offer urgent 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. Clinicians will also treat simple wounds, colds and allergies and can remove foreign objects from ears and noses.
