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| Dr. LaDonna Crews, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a general pediatrician with USA Physicians Group, examines a patient at the USA Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic. |
Children with medical complexity are a growing population, as more infants and children are surviving with congenital anomalies, genetic syndromes, and other medical conditions that previously would have been fatal in the first year of life. Early identification of disease, advancement in treatment modalities, and improvement in neonatal care have resulted in higher survival rates.
According to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, children with medical complexity (CMC) are defined as children with congenital or acquired multisystem disease, marked functional impairment, and/or technology dependence for activities of daily living. This population is the most medically fragile and has more intensive health care needs requiring a great amount of resources.
While survivorship has increased, children with medical complexity still face significant obstacles regarding their care. "One of the main needs is finding a provider and clinical staff that have comfort assessing these patients and addressing their needs," said Dr. LaDonna Crews, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a general pediatrician with USA Physicians Group.
To meet this need, Dr. Crews has led the establishment of the first Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic (PCCC) in the state of Alabama. Located at the Strada Patient Care Center, the USA Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic officially opens Jan. 8; and clinic hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dr. Crews said the clinic's current patients are technology- and device-dependent children, including those with gastrostomy tubes, tracheostomies, ventilator dependence and wheelchair dependence.
The USA Pediatrics Clinic, which achieved Level 3 Patient Center Medical Home recognition in 2017, has had the ability to take care of many children in the area including healthy children, children with special health care needs, and children with medical complexity.
The basis for opening the new clinic, Dr. Crews said, is "to provide more dedicated time and resource coordination for this patient population. Our ultimate goal is to establish and maintain a family-centered medical home with care coordination among all providers in these children’s lives, including sub-specialists, home health providers, educational providers, specialty pharmacies, medical equipment companies and specialized therapists."
The USA Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic has already received recognition as Alabama’s primary site for the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Advance Care for Children with Medical Complexity, a national quality improvement project with the purpose of improving the quality of life for children with medical complexity, the well-being of their families, and the cost-effectiveness of their care.
To make an appointment at the USA Pediatrics Complex Care Clinic, call (251) 410-5437 or (251) 434-3917. The Strada Patient Care Center is located at 1601 Center St., and the clinic is located in suite 1A.
