The deal includes intensive care transport

Carolinas HealthCare System’s Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital
accepts cases from Lake Norman Regional Medical Center

MOORESVILLE – Carolinas HealthCare System’s Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital (JGCH) has entered into an agreement with Lake Norman Regional Medical Center (LNRMC) to accept pediatric patients that need in-patient care.

Based on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, JGCH in Concord has 53 beds including general pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In addition, JGCH has a Child Life Department, a Children’s Advocacy Center and a number of pediatric specialists on staff.

“The decision to provide specialized pediatric care for patients close to their homes will greatly benefit families in the Lake Norman area,” Lake Norman Regional CEO Greg Lowe said in a press release. “The hospital will convert those current beds for use by other departments and services but will obviously continue to respond to emergency situations and specialized surgical care 24/7.”

“We feel confident that this new agreement with JGCH will provide comfort to parents of children in our area while assuring them that a pediatric unit supported by a highly-trained and experienced staff is waiting to serve them when needed,” Mr. Lowe said.

An example of a pediatric case transferring from LNRMC to the children’s hospital would be a child with respiratory distress needing ventilator support.

Dr. David Hoover, surgeon and Pediatric Medical Director at JGCH, said adding cases from the Lake Norman region will put any stress on the Concord children’s hospital.

“We are excited about the collaboration with LNRMC and the joint commitment to work with local pediatricians and family practice physicians to ensure a seamless transition of care back into the community.” Dr. Hoover said in the press release. “The scope of services available to children at Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital and Levine Children’s Hospital together means that no child should have to leave this area for care.”

Nationally, about 2 percent of pediatric emergency-care patients are admitted to a hospital. With a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit operating 24/7 supported by pediatric subspecialists, pediatric hospitalists, experienced nurses and child life specialists, JGCH is well-positioned to respond to the medical needs of children in the area, Dr. Hoover said.

With the agreement signed last week, a dedicated mobile intensive care unit will be serving the LNRMC campus to provide specialized transport of sick patients direct to the children’s hospital in nearby Concord.

Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of more than 650 care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, healthcare pavilions, physician practices, destination centers, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and hospice and palliative care. CHS works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center (www.lnrmc.com) an acute care hospital, offers comprehensive medical care services throughout the greater Lake Norman region. Located just off I-77, at Exit 33, the Mooresville medical campus offers complete specialty services from 24-hour emergency medicine and maternity to oncology and advanced surgical services. With over 300 physicians representing diverse specialties, Lake Norman Regional is committed to providing the highest quality medical care.

Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital (www.jeffgordonchildrenshospital.org), is a 53-bed hospital on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, offering highly specialized, exceptional pediatric care. 
Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital offers intensive care and a wide range of subspecialty services including behavioral health, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, psychiatry, pulmonology, urology and surgery. The hospital also provides a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 24/7 in-house neonatologists and a Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit directed by the region’s only pediatric epileptologist. Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital values the involvement of families in their child’s care and has created a friendly environment for pediatric patients and their families, knowing that children have different needs best served in a space entirely devoted to their care.

Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

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