Effingham Well being System opens new pediatric middle in Springfield

Effingham Well being System opened a brand new 5,100-square-foot pediatric middle Might 8 at 520 W. Third St., Springfield, on the nook of Hwy. 21. The constructing was previously the house of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce.

A lot of Effingham County’s officers and authorities representatives have been available for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening.

“It is great to see as a result of we’re so fortunate to have a group hospital. And we actually made it by means of the tough occasions,” stated Effingham County Supervisor Tim Callanan. “We made it by means of by way of partnerships with the group (and) with the county. It is actually going to pay large dividends for us sooner or later.”

The constructing options a big foyer/ready space, and former chamber of commerce places of work at the moment are roomy examination rooms.

“I do not know in the event you’ve seen this constructing, however I used to be accustomed to it,” Callanan continued. “It all the time gave the impression to be form of a clumsy constructing for a Chamber of Commerce and our IDA (Industrial Growth Authority) headquarters, till I walked by means of it right now. Then I spotted that it was actually constructed to be a pediatric medical middle. The IDA and the chamber of commerce have been simply non permanent occupants. Good.”

Dr. Fran Witt, president and CEO of Effingham Well being System, highlighted not solely the expansion that’s coming to the county, however the development the native hospital has already seen.

“Since 2018 we now have skilled a 425% enhance in pediatric visits,” Witt stated.

Witt added Effingham Well being will now be capable to broaden its pediatric providers from seeing 32 sufferers a day to 56; and the brand new facility has seven examination rooms, in comparison with their present facility which has 4.

“As we speak is just the start,” Witt continued. “As we collect right here to chop the ribbon on this stunning house devoted and designed to advertise and foster wholesome kids, our journey positions Effingham Pediatrics to be a pacesetter within the supply of well being look after the kids in our group.”

District 3 County Commissioner Jamie DeLoach echoed Dr. Witt’s sentiment in regards to the pediatric middle being “just the start.” DeLoach can be vice chairman of the Effingham Well being Basis Board, which is the fundraising arm of Effingham Well being System.

“Three of our foremost pillars that we give attention to is elevating cash and consciousness for the pediatric facility that you just see behind me now; additionally high quality senior citizen care, and increasing our most cancers care facility,” DeLoach stated. “I wish to take a second to thank the workers of Effingham Well being System and donating to the pediatric middle by means of the Giving Hearts Membership, which is the worker marketing campaign.” DeLoach added that two gadgets the Giving Hearts Membership is at the moment elevating funds for embrace a pediatric imaginative and prescient screener and an toddler scale.

Dr. Bailey Alford heads up the crew at Effingham Pediatrics, and expressed pleasure at persevering with and increasing her apply in Effingham County. She was the primary pediatrician to hitch Effingham Well being in 2017. Now there are 4 pediatric employees members with the well being system.

“I grew up on this group. My husband and I are elevating our kids on this group. So I knew that after my pediatric coaching, I needed to return again and apply medication right here,” Dr. Alford advised the group. When she met with Dr. Witt in 2017, she knew that they had a standard imaginative and prescient and objectives for Effingham Well being.

“I may inform actually rapidly that her imaginative and prescient and my objectives have been aligned and collectively we have been going to have the ability to enhance the entry to pediatric well being care on this county,” Dr. Alford stated. “We’re all moms ourselves. So we all know how necessary it’s to have prepared entry to high quality well being care near residence.”

Georgia’s Speaker of the Home, Rep. Jon Burns, concurred with Dr. Witt’s feedback.

“The extra we take a look at well being care coverage across the state, the extra evident it’s that well being care at a younger age significantly improves the probabilities of a wholesome future for our residents,” Rep. Burns stated.

“That is why it is so necessary that we make sure that our kids obtain the very best stage of well being care doable. And this facility will assist Dr. Alford and her crew to simply that. It’s going to profit our whole group,” Rep. Burns added.

Becoming a member of Dr. Alford on the employees on the new pediatric middle are: Jana Marks, licensed nurse practitioner; Jessica Pimentel, household nurse practitioner; and Brittany Ford, licensed pediatric nurse practitioner.