ATLANTA (Sept. 8, 2017) – As thousands of families evacuate Southeastern coastlines in preparation for Hurricane Irma’s landfall across portions of the region, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is assisting hospitals and regional coalitions throughout the Southeast to help ensure pediatric patients are out of harm’s way. Children’s is the Pediatric Specialty Coordinating Hospital for Georgia, which means Children’s will assist all Georgia regional healthcare coalitions with pediatric patient needs.
The hospital system stands ready to support fellow hospitals throughout the state and assist in the care of children with the most critical needs in Georgia. Children’s leadership, clinical teams and staff are working in close coordination with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Georgia Hospital Association, and the Children's Transfer Center is facilitating the acceptance of pediatric critical care and medical and surgical inpatient care. In preparation for Hurricane Irma, Children’s transported 19 patients from Savannah to Children's Scottish Rite and Egleston hospitals, as well as to three other metro Atlanta hospitals and facilities in Augusta.
“It is an honor for Children’s to serve the state of Georgia as a Specialty Coordinating Hospital,” said Patrick Frias, MD, Chief Operating Officer at Children’s. “Our transport team has been working around the clock to move the tiniest patients out of the path of this unprecedented storm.”
Children’s has three campuses, including Egleston, Scottish Rite and Hughes Spalding hospitals. Egleston Hospital is the only designated Level 1 pediatric trauma center in the state, while Scottish Rite Hospital is the only designated Level 2 pediatric trauma center. Between the three campuses, Children’s has 622 licensed pediatric beds. In addition to two Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs), Children’s has Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and Technology Dependent Intensive Care Units (TICUs). Children’s has all pediatric subspecialties and will accept pediatric patients in transfer when beds are available. During the Hurricane Irma response, our primary focus has been on babies in the NICU and working with partners to identify an appropriate facility for patients who have been evacuated.
In addition to the hospitals providing critical care services, Children’s is monitoring inpatient pediatric beds throughout the Southeast and can assist with the transfer of medical or surgical pediatric patients within the region. Children's transport teams are comprised of Advanced Life Support crews, including nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists who have access to nine emergency vehicles and two helicopters.*
*Metro Aviation Inc. conducts all flights and exercises sole operational control over all aircraft.